Russia: early warning system dismantled

1. The early warning system for foreign journalists in Russia

Foreign correspondents in Russia have been forced to develop a very sophisticated early warning system in case of danger during the two decades since Vladimir Putin came to power. In a country where the letter of the law only matters when a powerful decides to use it, this mechanism has been the only way for most journalists to continue to operate safely inside the country.

2. The hardening of the rules under Putin

Under Putin, Russia very quickly reverted to the tried-and-true methods used by police states to deal with foreign journalists, namely the threat of refusing visas, and therefore access to the country, as a lever to try to compel them to provide more positive coverage

 

.

 

 

3. Invasion of Ukraine and reinforcement of measures

When Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the rules for journalists were significantly tightened. THE Kremlin blocked a wide range of social media platforms, cracked down harshly on unfavorable coverage in Russian media, and introduced military censorship.

 

4. Arrest of journalist Evan Gershkovich

The arrest on Wednesday of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, whom I have had the honor to know for many years, has shown that this is no longer the case and that the early warning system has been destroyed once and for all.

5. Putin's and the FSB's new targets

Now all foreign journalists, and by default all foreign nationals, are potentially fair game for Putin and the Russian security services, and it would seem that this rule applies not only to journalism but to everything that happens in Russia now.

 

 

American journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia, officially accused of "espionage"

Foreign correspondents in Russia have been forced to develop a very sophisticated early warning system in the event of danger during the two decades since the rise to power of Vladimir Putin. In a country where the letter of the law only matters when a powerful decides to use it, this mechanism has been the only way for most journalists to continue to operate safely inside the country.American journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia last week, has been formally charged with “ espionage Friday, April 7, an accusation he "categorically" denies, Russian news agencies reported.

This notification paves the way for a trial, the date of which has not yet been announced.

according to Interfax, Mr. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent who also worked for Agence France-Presse in the past, is being prosecuted under article 276 of the Russian criminal code, a charge punishable by twenty years in prison .The reporter was arrested last week by the Russian security services (FSB) while reporting in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals. The authorities accused him, among other things, of collecting information on the defense industry.

The United States and the Wall Street Journal rejected espionage charges and called on the Kremlin to release the 31-year-old journalist, a citizen American of Russian origin.

The daily again denounced, on Friday, "totally false and unjustified" charges, in a press release. "We will continue to demand Evan's immediate release," adds the Wall Street Journal. Ukraine, which has greatly strained relations between Moscow and Washington.

It also follows a prisoner exchange in December, between the American basketball star Brittney griner, who was in custody in Russia, and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, a prisoner in the United States. Washington has repeatedly accused Moscow of arbitrarily arresting Americans to use them as bargaining chips and recover Russians detained at United States.