Russian journalist who covered Navalny’s trial jailed in Moscow on extremism

Antonina Favorskaya, a Russian journalist who covered the trial of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, has been jailed in Moscow on extremism charges.

Favorskaya, also known as Antonina Kravtsova, was ordered by a Moscow court on Friday to be detained until at least May 28, pending investigation and trial. Associated Press reported.

Independent news site Mediazona reported that journalists and their lawyers protested the decision to hold the hearing behind closed doors.outlet posted a video online Favorskaya being dragged away by officials.

She is accused of collecting material and producing and editing videos and publications for Navalny’s foundation, which was considered extremist by authorities. She has been charged with involvement in an extremist group, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison, the newswire said.

Navalny, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics, died in February in the country’s maximum-security prison. He was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism. President Biden and other world leaders criticized the death, saying Navalny died at the hands of Putin.

Favorskaya was initially detained on March 17 while laying flowers at Navalny’s grave. She spent 10 days in jail after being charged with disobedience to police, after which she was charged again and she appeared in court on Friday, the Associated Press reported.

Mr Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said Ms Favorskaya had “not published anything” on the platform of Mr Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.

“Even if we discard the falsehood of the accusations, the essence remains: journalists are being accused of journalistic activity.” Yarmysh posted in Russian, Translated into English. “There’s no need to be surprised, but what a darkness.”

An organization called Reporters Without Borders Said Favorskaya was among a group of six journalists arrested within hours in Russia.

Her hearing came on the one-year anniversary of the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovitch, who is awaiting trial in Moscow.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.