Reacting to the news that a court in Russia sentenced RusNews journalist Roman Ivanov to seven years in a penal colony for spreading “knowingly false information” about the Russian Armed Forces, Natalia Prilutskaya, Amnesty International’s Russia Researcher, said:
“This sentence is a blatant example of the Russian authorities’ relentless campaign of intimidation against anyone bold enough to speak out against the invasion of Ukraine or to criticise the conduct of Russia’s military.”
“By punishing Roman Ivanov for sharing reports on the killing of civilians in Bucha and other alleged crimes committed by the Russian military, the authorities are not only silencing him but also sending a clear message to deter others. In insisting that information about the war must be made public, Roman Ivanov was simply carrying out his journalistic duty. His case underscores the dire reality of freedom of expression in Russia today. His kneeling in court to apologize to Ukrainians showed dignity and bravery.
By punishing Roman Ivanov for sharing reports on the killing of civilians in Bucha and other alleged crimes committed by the Russian military, the authorities are not only silencing him but also sending a clear message to deter others
Natalia Prilutskaya, Amnesty International’s Russia Researcher
“Roman Ivanov is a prisoner of conscience who must be freed immediately and unconditionally. The repressive ‘war censorship’ legislation used against him must be repealed in its entirety.”
Background
On 6 March, the Moscow Region’s Korolyov City Court sentenced Roman Ivanov for distributing “knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces” (Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code), based on publications on his personal Telegram channel that discussed the killing of civilians in Bucha and other alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces.
In his last words to the court, Roman Ivanov knelt down and asked for forgiveness from the people of Ukraine, saying, “I want to ask for forgiveness from all Ukrainians to whom our country has brought grief.” In February 2023, another RusNews journalist, Maria Ponomarenko, was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment on similar charges.
