Russia, as per reports, is stepping up its persecution of independent journalists in the country. Just ahead of the anniversary of American reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention in Yekaterinburg, Moscow arrested six journalists working for independent media outlets in Russia. According to CNN, these journalists were arrested within a short period of time this week.

<h2>Persecution of free media</h2>

Jeanne Cavelier, the head of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk alleged that "with six new arrests in a span of a few hours, accompanied by violence, threats and searches, the authorities are stepping up their persecution of the last independent journalists and media in Russia"

"RSF condemns the arbitrary arrests and unacceptable violence against these journalists," she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wall-street-journal-reporter-evan-gershkovich-marks-a-year-in-russian-prison-705781">Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich marks a year in Russian prison</a>

Among the arrested journalists is Antonina Favorskaya, known for her coverage of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.&nbsp;

RSF in a statement stated that Favorskaya, employed by the independent Russian media outlet SOTA Vision, faces accusations of "extremist activities" due to her reporting on Navalny and his activities.

Favorskaya notably filmed Navalny's final video before his death, showing the opposition activist appearing in a court hearing via a video link from the Arctic penal colony where he was serving his sentence.

This comes as on Friday (Mar 29) Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich marked one year since his detention in Russian custody. Following his arrest, the reporter was charged with espionage, an allegation strongly refuted by Gershkovich, his employer, and the US government.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-retaliation-hackers-allegedly-breach-massive-russian-prisoner-database-706571">Navalny’s retaliation? Hackers allegedly breach massive Russian prisoner database</a>

Gershkovich was the first journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. However, the Russian government has yet to provide any evidence to support the accusation.

<h2>Charges against the arrested journalists</h2>

As per a report by Russian state news agency TASS, the Investigative Committee of Russia requested Favorskaya's arrest for allegedly "participating in an extremist organisation."&nbsp;

Favorskaya had extensively covered Navalny's court hearings over the past two years and reported from the penal colonies and cemetery where Navalny was buried.

The six journalists, including Favorskaya, were arrested on Wednesday (Mar 27)&nbsp;and Thursday (Mar 28), according to RSF.&nbsp;

Favorskaya was reportedly arrested while being released after spending 10 days in detention in Moscow on a charge of "disobeying the police," RSF reported. Two other journalists, Alexandra Astakhova and Anastasia Musayeva, who came to meet Favorskaya, were also detained and are now "involved in the case as witnesses," according to SOTA Vision. All three journalists were also reportedly subjected to searches during their detention.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia, as per reports, is stepping up its persecution of independent journalists in the country. Just ahead of the anniversary of American reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention in Yekaterinburg, Moscow arrested six journalists working for independent media outlets in Russia.

Russia, as per reports, is stepping up its persecution of independent journalists in the country. Just ahead of the anniversary of American reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention in Yekaterinburg, Moscow arrested six journalists working for independent media outlets in Russia. According to CNN, these journalists were arrested within a short period of time this week. Persecution of free media Jeanne Cavelier, the head of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk alleged that "with six new arrests in a span of a few hours, accompanied by violence, threats and searches, the authorities are stepping up their persecution of the last independent journalists and media in Russia" "RSF condemns the arbitrary arrests and unacceptable violence against these journalists," she added. Also read | Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich marks a year in Russian prison Among the arrested journalists is Antonina Favorskaya, known for her coverage of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. RSF in a statement stated that Favorskaya, employed by the independent Russian media outlet SOTA Vision, faces accusations of "extremist activities" due to her reporting on Navalny and his activities. Favorskaya notably filmed Navalny's final video before his death, showing the opposition activist appearing in a court hearing via a video link from the Arctic penal colony where he was serving his sentence. This comes as on Friday (Mar 29) Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich marked one year since his detention in Russian custody. Following his arrest, the reporter was charged with espionage, an allegation strongly refuted by Gershkovich, his employer, and the US government. Also read | Navalny’s retaliation? Hackers allegedly breach massive Russian prisoner database Gershkovich was the first journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. However, the Russian government has yet to provide any evidence to support the accusation. Charges against the arrested journalists As per a report by Russian state news agency TASS, the Investigative Committee of Russia requested Favorskaya's arrest for allegedly "participating in an extremist organisation." Favorskaya had extensively covered Navalny's court hearings over the past two years and reported from the penal colonies and cemetery where Navalny was buried. The six journalists, including Favorskaya, were arrested on Wednesday (Mar 27) and Thursday (Mar 28), according to RSF. Favorskaya was reportedly arrested while being released after spending 10 days in detention in Moscow on a charge of "disobeying the police," RSF reported. Two other journalists, Alexandra Astakhova and Anastasia Musayeva, who came to meet Favorskaya, were also detained and are now "involved in the case as witnesses," according to SOTA Vision. All three journalists were also reportedly subjected to searches during their detention. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia stepping up 'persecution of last independent journalists and media,' alleges Reporters Without Borders

Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist who was among the group of news professionals who investigated Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's poisoning in 2020, was put on the "wanted" list by Russia's&nbsp;Interior Ministry.

Grozev is the lead Russia investigator at the Netherlands-based investigative journalism group Bellingcat.

Information published on the ministry’s website said he was "wanted under an article of the Criminal Code".&nbsp;

A Russian human rights media project OVD-Info was cited by CNN saying that the Russian state has opened a criminal case for spreading "fake news" about the Russian army.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-clears-law-against-fake-news-on-army-bbc-cnn-others-suspend-operations-459126">Putin clears law against ‘fake news’ on army</a>

Since April this year, Russia has had a law against "fake news" in place that seeks to punish journalists with a jail term of up to 15 years for publishing fake news about the army. In November, President Vladimir Putin proposed an amendment to the law that called for revoking the citizenship of Russian citizens once found convicted under the law.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/moscow-russian-anti-war-journalist-marina-ovsyannikova-detained-again-505835">Moscow: Russian anti-war journalist Marina Ovsyannikova detained again</a>

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Grozev has reported extensively on Russia’s involvement in a number of high-profile international crimes, including the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine and the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the United Kingdom. Moscow has denied any responsibility for either attack in the past.&nbsp;

According to Bellingcat, Grozev focuses on "security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponization of information."

Grozev has been using open-source digital tools to document alleged war crimes that human rights activists claim have drawn Russia's ire.

'They are scared of our work': Christo Grozev

Grozev wrote on Twitter that the Russian state is "scared" of the work he does and that they would stop at nothing "to make it go away".&nbsp;

“I have no idea on what grounds the Kremlin has put me on its ‘wanted list,’ thus I cannot provide any comments at this time. In a way it doesn’t matter – for years they’ve made it clear they are scared of our work and would stop at nothing to make it go away,” he said in a Twitter post on Monday.

According to OVD-Info, at least 370 people have faced criminal prosecution for anti-war statements and speeches.&nbsp;

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Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist who was among the group of news professionals who investigated Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's poisoning in 2020, was put on the "wanted" list by Russia's Interior Ministry.

Christo Grozev, the Bulgarian journalist who was among the group of news professionals who investigated Russian dissident Alexei Navalny's poisoning in 2020, was put on the "wanted" list by Russia's Interior Ministry. Grozev is the lead Russia investigator at the Netherlands-based investigative journalism group Bellingcat. Information published on the ministry’s website said he was "wanted under an article of the Criminal Code". A Russian human rights media project OVD-Info was cited by CNN saying that the Russian state has opened a criminal case for spreading "fake news" about the Russian army. ALSO READ | Putin clears law against ‘fake news’ on army Since April this year, Russia has had a law against "fake news" in place that seeks to punish journalists with a jail term of up to 15 years for publishing fake news about the army. In November, President Vladimir Putin proposed an amendment to the law that called for revoking the citizenship of Russian citizens once found convicted under the law. WATCH | Moscow: Russian anti-war journalist Marina Ovsyannikova detained again × Grozev has reported extensively on Russia’s involvement in a number of high-profile international crimes, including the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine and the 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the United Kingdom. Moscow has denied any responsibility for either attack in the past. According to Bellingcat, Grozev focuses on "security threats, extraterritorial clandestine operations, and the weaponization of information." Grozev has been using open-source digital tools to document alleged war crimes that human rights activists claim have drawn Russia's ire. 'They are scared of our work': Christo Grozev Grozev wrote on Twitter that the Russian state is "scared" of the work he does and that they would stop at nothing "to make it go away". “I have no idea on what grounds the Kremlin has put me on its ‘wanted list,’ thus I cannot provide any comments at this time. In a way it doesn’t matter – for years they’ve made it clear they are scared of our work and would stop at nothing to make it go away,” he said in a Twitter post on Monday. According to OVD-Info, at least 370 people have faced criminal prosecution for anti-war statements and speeches. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Christo Grozev, journalist who reported on Navalny poisoning, now 'wanted' by Russia

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Russia stepping up 'persecution of last independent journalists and media,' alleges Reporters Without Borders

Christo Grozev, journalist who reported on Navalny poisoning, now 'wanted' by Russia