Russia: Court Labels Exiled Journalist Couple Lydia and Aleksandr Nevzorov as 'Extremist Union' in Unprecedented Ruling
Extremist designation enables state to seize their assets in Russia and evict Lydia’s elderly mother from her home
Location: Russia, St. Petersburg
Date: July 2, 2024
Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the recent decision by a St. Petersburg court to label the journalist couple Lydia Nevzorova and Aleksandr Nevzorov as an “extremist union.” This unprecedented and unjust ruling represents a grave assault on press freedom, individual liberties, and human rights in Russia. By targeting the Nevzorovs, the Russian government continues its relentless campaign to silence dissenting voices and undermine democratic principles. This designation not only criminalizes the couple's “political activities” but also permits the state to seize their remaining assets in Russia. Such actions are a blatant abuse of power and reflect the Kremlin's increasing desperation to stifle opposition. The personal toll on the Nevzorovs is severe, with Lydia's elderly mother facing eviction from her home — a cruel and inhumane consequence of this oppressive regime. We call upon the international community to condemn this unjust ruling and to support the Nevzorovs. The world must not remain silent in the face of such egregious violations of human rights and press freedom.
A St. Petersburg court has labeled the journalist couple Lydia Nevzorova and her husband Aleksandr Nevzorov as an “extremist union,” their lawyer confirmed on July 2, 2024. This unprecedented ruling marks the first instance of a Russian court designating a couple as an extremist unit.
This designation allows the state to seize the couple’s property and remaining assets in Russia and criminalizes any political activities they might engage in within the country.
"It’s almost laughable," says Lydia Nevzorova. "We are now the first 'extremist cell of society.' All they want to take has already been confiscated multiple times in various cases. We've moved on from this a long time ago." Lydia expresses concern over the state’s actions against her family, revealing that the authorities may evict her elderly mother, “a blockade survivor, widow of a blockade survivor, and the daughter of war veterans, a Hero of Labor who worked for her homeland for 50 years.”
"My mother, over 80, is now at risk of losing her home. She lives with her dog, the only close soul by her side," says Lydia. “She recently survived a heart attack and heart surgery, is almost blind, moves with difficulty, lives alone out of town, and doesn’t even have the possibility to order groceries to be delivered to her home,” she continues. “Do you know why? The FSB marked her house on all delivery maps with a checkmark - 'do not deliver here.' And yes, you can't call a taxi either! Thankfully, ambulances still come. Regularly.”
Lydia Nevzorova, a journalist and professional photographer who was published in, among other notable publications, National Geographic, specialized in equine welfare, locomotion, and thermography before the Russian state went after her and her husband. She now runs her husband’s Telegram and YouTube channels as a producer and editor. Nevzorov, who gained prominence as a political talk show host in the 1980s during Mikhail Gorbachev’s glasnost reforms, has been a consistent critic of the Kremlin since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Despite being a 4-term State Duma deputy, who returned to journalism in 2012, Nevzorov’s views shifted following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading to his vocal opposition to the Kremlin’s policies.
The Nevzorovs, now residing in the EU, responded to the court’s decision on Telegram. "Freedom is expensive. But no price can be too high," Lydia’s husband wrote. Nevzorov disclosed that Russian authorities had attempted to blackmail them for two months, offering a favorable court ruling in exchange for him changing his stance on the war.
In February 2023, Nevzorov was found guilty in absentia of discrediting the Russian military after he criticized its attack on a nursing home in Mariupol, Ukraine, and highlighted Russian military atrocities in Bucha. He received an eight-year prison sentence and was later designated as a “foreign agent” by the Justice Ministry.
In early June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a secret decree granting the couple Ukrainian citizenship for their “outstanding services to the country.”
The ruling against the Nevzorovs is part of a broader pattern of repression against journalists and Kremlin critics. Women Press Freedom notes with grave concern the increasing frequency and severity of punitive measures against those who dare speak out against the Russian government. We stand in solidarity with Lydia and Aleksandr Nevzorov and call on the international community to condemn this unjust ruling and demand the reversal of this decision. The actions of the Russian authorities are not only an attack on the Nevzorovs but an attack on the fundamental freedoms that underpin democratic societies. We also call for immediate measures to ensure the safety and well-being of Lydia Nevzorova’s elderly mother and others who are unjustly affected by these punitive actions. It is imperative that the international community acts to support those who are unjustly persecuted.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.