Russian Forbes journalist under house arrest for ‘Fake News’ accusations

A journalist working for the Russian edition of Forbes magazine has been placed under house arrest after being accused of spreading “fake news” about the Russian armed forces, reported CNN, citing Russian state-run RIA news agency on Saturday.

Sergey Mingazov, the detained journalist, faces a two-month house arrest pending trial following allegations of spreading misinformation related to events in Bucha, Ukraine. His lawyer, Konstantin Bubon, confirmed Mingazov’s detention on Friday, citing his reposting of articles about alleged Russian military atrocities in Bucha.

Mingazov’s actions on his Telegram channel, which had 476 subscribers, involved sharing stories from outlets like BBC’s Russian service and Radio Freedom, focusing on reported atrocities in Bucha following its liberation from Russian occupation in March 2022.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office has accused the Russian army of committing war crimes in Bucha, resulting in civilian casualties. However, the Kremlin has denied involvement, dismissing evidence as fabricated.

Mingazov’s house arrest includes restrictions on internet access and interactions, limited to relatives, investigators, lawyers, and medical professionals. This measure is part of Russia’s pre-trial protocols for cases involving public dissemination of “knowingly false information.”

This incident is part of a broader crackdown on journalists in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notable figures like Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal have faced arrests. Arrest warrants in absentia have also been issued for critical journalists like Alexander Nevzorov, Dmitry Gordon, and Marina Ovsyannikova.

On the same day, another Russian journalist, Konstantin Gabov, was detained on charges of “extremism.” These actions highlight growing concerns about press freedoms and freedom of speech in Russia amid escalating tensions and conflicts.