Two Russian journalists arrested in ‘extremism’ charge belong to Navalny group

Two Russian journalists, Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin, were detained on charges of “extremism,” with authorities accusing them of connections to a group linked to the late Russian opposition figure, Alexey Navalny, according to CNN. Gabov and Karelin are said to have contributed to Navalny’s influential YouTube channel, “NavalnyLIVE,” known for its exposes on Kremlin corruption, attracting millions of viewers.

Russian authorities have labeled Navalny and his organizations as “extremist,” leading to the imprisonment of his associates and the exile of many others, as per CNN reports. Moscow’s Basmanny District Court stated that Gabov’s involvement allegedly includes producing visual content for the YouTube channel. Gabov, identified as a producer for Reuters news agency, is facing detention until June 27.

Karelin, apprehended in Russia’s Murmansk region, is accused of “participation in an extremist organization.” He has a journalism background, having previously worked for outlets like the Associated Press (AP) and Deutsche Welle (DW) before the latter was banned in Russia in 2022. Photos from a Murmansk court show Karelin, who holds dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, seated in a glass enclosure during his hearing.

The detention of Gabov and Karelin is seen as part of a broader crackdown on journalists and Kremlin critics in Russia. President Vladimir Putin’s administration has escalated efforts to quash dissent, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine. Sergey Mingazov, a journalist for Forbes, was recently placed under house arrest for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military.

Navalny, once Putin’s primary political rival, died in custody while serving a lengthy sentence on extremism charges. His family and supporters have accused the Kremlin of involvement in his death, a claim vehemently denied by Russian authorities, according to CNN.