Russian justice opens case to journalist for “false information” about bombing of hospital in Mariupol

Russia on Tuesday opened an investigation into a well-known journalist for publishing “false information” about actions of the Russian army in Ukrainein the first application of a law that provides up to 15 years in prison for this type of crime.

Journalist Alexander Nevzorov is being investigated for having “intentionally published false information about a deliberate bombing by the Russian army against a maternity hospital for Mariupol”, in the southeast of Ukrainespecified the Russian Committee of Investigation, in charge of relevant judicial matters.

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“These publications were accompanied by photographs that are not worthy of faith, of civilians affected by the bombing (…). The Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced that this information was false.continues the statement.

The Investigative Committee said it was trying to locate Nevzorov, 63, who in the 2000s was also a deputy.

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This is the first open case in application of the law enacted at the beginning of the month that provides for up to 15 years in prison for the crime of spreading information about the Armed Forces that the Kremlin considers false.

Alexandre Nevzorov, a former TV presenter, is currently active mainly on social media and YouTube, where he has a channel with 1.6 million subscribers. Each of his last four videos had more than three million views.

The opening of this case takes place in a context of increasing repression against the media and journalists in Russia, in parallel to the military operation in Ukraine.

The Russian government and the media it controls claim that this intervention seeks to “denazify” and “demilitarize” Ukraine and to prevent a “genocide” against the Russian-speaking population of this country.

Using the word “war” to describe this operation or to evoke actions against civilians are theoretically subject to legal action.

Apart from that law that sanctions “lies” against the army, Russian deputies adopted another law on Tuesday, which provides for up to 15 years in prison for those who denigrate the actions of Russian organizations abroad.

Numerous Russian and foreign independent media outlets have been blocked in recent weeks, as have social networks such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Source: Elcomercio

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