Yesterday, 13 July, the Committee to Protect Journalists announced it will honour four courageous journalists with the 2020 International Press Freedom Awards, among them Svetlana Prokopyeva from Russia. The announcement came just a day after a Russian court found her guilty of “justifying terrorism” in a controversial case widely criticised as an attack on freedom of speech.
The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist has maintained her innocence throughout the trial and described the case as an attempt to “assassinate freedom of speech” in Russia.
“Svetlana’s conviction means that there is no presumption of innocence, no protections for journalists against the brute force of the state,” said RFE/RL acting President Daisy Sindelar.
“Her case recalls the show trials that were used by Soviet authorities to punish critics. It is a grim assault against free speech and the mission of an independent press.”
In 2018, Prokopyeva used a radio programme to discuss the case of a 17-year-old who blew himself up at the office of the Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB, in the Russian city of Arkhangelsk. It was reported that the suspected bomber, who died in the explosion, had posted statements on social media accusing the FSB of tampering with criminal cases and in her commentary, Prokopyeva linked the teenager’s statements to the political climate under President Vladimir Putin. She suggested that political activism in the country was severely restricted, leading people to despair.
Immediately after the adoption of amendments to the Constitution, the Kremlin began to tighten the screws on press freedom with renewed vigor and this summer, dubbed “the Summer of Unfreedom” by independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has seen several journalists being targeted by the Kremlin.
Earlier this month, Ivan Safronov, a journalist who in May became an adviser at Russia’s space agency, was formally charged with treason, which he denies. Many believe his persecution is related to his journalistic activities and he is the first journalist in 23 years to be charged with treason.
His arrest caused a major outcry and many journalists gathered outside his detention facility yesterday, Monday 13 July, to offer their support in a case they say is shrouded in unacceptable secrecy. Despite the fact that almost none of those who came shouted slogans or protested, the police considered the meeting a mass rally and detained 18 journalists in total.
The independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers published an open letter in support of his release.
“We demand an open and transparent investigation of the socially significant case of Ivan Safronov. We are sure that Ivan should not be behind bars. A journalist is not a terrorist, not a traitor to the Motherland, and not a criminal. In order to state the opposite, convincing charges must be brought, the investigation and court hearings should be impartial, open and accessible to the whole society, ”the letter stated.
Ivan Safronov worked for Kommersant and Vedomosti for about ten years, mainly reporting on military matters and writing about the military-industrial complex. He was also part of the Kremlin pool, the reporters accredited to cover events with President Vladimir Putin.
In an unusual move, reporters from that group posted a video in which they spoke out in his defence.
“Vanya [Safronov] is a real patriot. There are few people like that. And people like that aren’t spies,” said Kira Latukhina, a journalist for Russia’s government newspaper.
Vladimir Zhelonkin, Chief Editor of the newspaper Kommersant, said:
“Vanya is a professional, good journalist, a wonderful honest open guy. I do not believe in the accusations, to me it looks like a phantasmagoria.”
Ilya Bulavinov, former Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper Vedomosti, said:
“I do not believe in the accusations. He [Safronov] wrote on very sensitive topics and understood this, therefore he was always extremely careful and accurate.”