Press Release, 7.09.2023

Photo: Mikhail Afanasyev / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Mikhail Afanasyev, Editor-in-Chief of the Novy Focus online media, a Yabloko member and two-time winner of the Andrei Sakharov Prize “For Journalism as an Act of Conscience”, was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison in a criminal case on “fakes about the army” (Article 207.3, Part 2, item A of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Afanasyev was also deprived of the right to engage in journalistic activities for a period of 2.5 years. The court’s decision will be appealed.

Nikolai Rybakov, Chairman of the Yabloko party, came to the announcement of the verdict. This is the third hearing in the Afanasyev case that he has attended.

Since April 2022, Mikhail Afanasyev has been in a pre-trial detention centre. The reason for the persecution of the journalist was the publication on the website of Novy Focus reporting that 11 riot policemen from Khakassia refused to go to Ukraine.

The position of the defence in the case was that at the time of publication of the material, the OMON (riot police) was not yet part of the structure of the National Guard, the members of the detachments were not military personnel. In addition, Mikhail Afanasyev stated that he had received information from trusted sources, as he had long been engaged in protecting the rights of OMON officers and had been in contact with them.

While Afanasyev was in jail, an administrative case under Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (“inciting hatred or enmity”) was filed against the Novy Focus media. The city public prosecutor’s office said that some of the materials on the web-site contained signs of “insulting public morality” and “humiliation of human dignity” of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mikhail Afanasyev, who was the founder of the legal entity of the online media, was fined 450,000 roubles.

At the same time, the Afanasyev family faced financial difficulties. The journalist has five minor children who were left without the main breadwinner. Yabloko party members and supporters, and orfianry citizens helped his family with paying the fine, closing debts and supporting children.

Mikhail Afanasyev prepared a speech for this last statement in the Abakan City Court. In his speech Afansyev reflected on the essence of journalistic work and his duty as a man and journalist.

Mikhail Afanasyev also addressed his children: “Let what happened to me in no case shake your faith in the best in people. Remember what we talked about: helping the weak, and that mercy and love are the best that is in you. And there are no words “should” and “have to”, but there is one word … the word “must”. I love you very much! Everything will straighten out.”

The decision of the court has not yet entered into force and will be appealed.

Read more about persecution of Yabloko members since the start of the special military operation.