Russia: Exiled TV Host Tatyana Lazareva Arrested in Absentia
Reporter designated “foreign agent” in 2022 for criticizing Russia’s war on Ukraine
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: June 13, 2024
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the arrest of exiled television host Tatyana Lazareva in absentia. This development is the latest episode in the ongoing persecution of Lazareva, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin's regime. Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Tatyana Lazareva and all journalists and activists who face persecution for exercising their right to free speech. We call on the international community to condemn these acts of transnational repression and to support measures that protect and empower journalists and activists worldwide. The targeting of Lazareva is not only an attack on one individual but a blatant affront to the principles of press freedom and human rights. We urge all governments and international organizations to hold the Russian government accountable for its continuous efforts to silence its critics and control the free flow of information.
WPF welcomes the judgment of the Fair Work Commission that found that broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf was fired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) following a social media post by Lattouf sharing a Human Rights Watch claim about Israel's actions in Gaza.
WPF is deeply concerned for the safety of press workers in Georgia following the disputed elections marred by violence, allegations of vote rigging, and claims of electoral misconduct. Throughout election day, journalists reporting at polling stations faced assaults, intimidation, and obstruction, highlighting the growing dangers for independent media covering politically sensitive events in the country
Women Press Freedom stands resolutely in solidarity with Arzu Yıldız, an investigative journalist from Turkiye forced into exile after facing persistent threats and persecution for her work. Yıldız's experience is emblematic of the broader crackdown on press freedom under President Tayyip Erdoğan's regime, where dissent is aggressively stifled. We unequivocally condemn the targeting and persecution of journalists by President Tayyip Erdoğan's government.
The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow arrested exiled television host Tatyana Lazareva in absentia on July 10, 2024, following a search warrant issued by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on June 13, 2024. The renowned journalist is unjustly accused of justifying terrorism.
Lazareva, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin's regime, was labeled a "foreign agent" in July 2022, a designation also given to her ex-husband, TV presenter Mikhail Shats. Both fled Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In June 2023, the Presnensky District Court in Moscow fined Lazareva 30,000 rubles for failing to label her social media posts with the "foreign agent" disclaimer.
Over the years, Lazareva has been an outspoken opponent of various government actions. In December 2011, she participated as a speaker in the Bolotnaya Square protests. In 2013, she publicly supported the LGBTQ+ community and criticized the law banning "LGBT propaganda." The following year, she condemned Russia's annexation of Crimea. More recently, she opposed constitutional amendments and the invasion of Ukraine while advocating for political prisoners.
Transnational repression, the act of authoritarian regimes targeting journalists or activists beyond their borders, is a growing concern worldwide. Russia has repeatedly shown its appetite for harassing exiles who have fled the country. Among the targeted exiles, instances include assassination attempts, alarming threats against two journalists in Czechia, multiple cases of legal persecution resulting in sentencing in absentia, and the inclusion of exiled Russians on wanted lists. These tactics underscore the Russian government's concerted efforts to silence dissent, control information, and extend its influence.
Women Press Freedom stands with Tatyana Lazareva and all journalists facing persecution. We call on the international community to condemn these actions and support the fundamental rights of journalists to report freely and without fear of retribution. It is imperative that we continue to defend press freedom and hold authoritarian regimes accountable for their attempts to suppress independent journalism.
WPF is deeply saddened by the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roschyna, who died under unclear circumstances while being transferred to a Moscow prison. The circumstances of her death remain uncertain, but one fact is clear: the Kremlin bears responsibility.
WPF strongly condemns the criminal charges brought against Ukrainian journalists Diana Butsko, Olesya Borovik, and CNN’s Nick Peyton Walsh by Russian federal security services for their coverage of Ukrainian military incursion into the Kursk region.
WPF is alarmed that the well-known journalist is facing issues traveling due to the Kremlin’s concerted and unjust transnational repression tactics
WPF strongly condemns Moscow's legal threats against Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini, who work for the Italian public broadcaster RAI. The journalists stand accused of "illegal border-crossing" after reporting on Ukraine’s counter-invasion in Russia's Kursk region.
WPF is delighted that Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva has been released from prison in Russia and is finally, after ten grueling months, able to return home to family in Prague.
WPF condemns the sentencing of Ukrainian TV presenter Natalia Moseychuk to five years in prison by a Moscow court, in yet another transnational repression attack on press freedom.
WPF condemns the Kremlin’s relentless legal harassment of exiled journalists under “foreign agent” law.
Elizaveta Surnacheva is now facing a second prosecution for failing to comply with the reporting requirements imposed on those labeled as “foreign agents.”
Olga Komleva, a reporter and activist from Ufa, is facing mounting legal pressures and accusations.
In a stark affront to press freedom, a Russian court has convicted American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in a secret trial, sentencing her to six and a half years in prison.
Exiled journalist Lyudmila Savitskaya has been subjected to continuous legal and financial harassment by the Russian regime, WPF is worryingly documenting.
War photographers Olga Kovalova and Vladyslav Krasnoshchok were injured by Russian shelling while covering the conflict in Toretsk, Donetsk.
Women Press Freedom condemns the continued persecution of journalist who has faced years of harassment.
WPF strongly condemns the ongoing persecution of journalists by the Russian government, which continues to label independent news outlets as “undesirable.”
WPF strongly denounces this transnational repression and calls on the international community to stand in solidarity with Taratuta and other exiled journalists who remain vulnerable to state-sanctioned reprisals from Russia for continuing to report.
Russian-US journalist and author Masha Gessen was convicted in absentia by a Moscow court on charges of spreading false information about the military.
The Kremlin has initiated yet another deplorable attack on press freedom by opening an administrative case against exiled journalist Yulia Latynina.
The Interior Ministry issues arrest warrants for at least 13 women and non-binary journalists.
Court arrests Lazareva in absentia following search warrant by Ministry of Internal Affairs. The renowned journalist is unjustly accused of justifying terrorism.
The deepfake targeting France 24 and journalist Catalina Marchant de Abreu is a serious threat to press freedom and public trust.
WPF vehemently condemns the recent decision by a St. Petersburg court to label the journalist couple Lydia Nevzorova and Aleksandr Nevzorov as an “extremist union.”
WPF denounces additional fines slapped on Baranova for “failure to comply with foreign agent law”
Russian military forces detained Zhanna Kyseliova, editor of the Kakhovska Zoria newspaper, on June 27, 2024, in Kakhovka, Kherson, following a raid on her apartment.
WPF denounces Russia’s decision to revoke the accreditation of Carola Schneider, a seasoned Moscow correspondent for Austria’s ORF.
WPF unequivocally condemns the Kremlin’s persistent and cynical use of transnational repression to silence dissenting voices, both domestically and abroad.
Arrested in absentia, journalist Ekaterina Fomina faces charges for disseminating "fakes" about the Russian army — a clear retaliation against her investigative reporting, which exposed a Russian soldier's confession to murder in Ukraine.
WPF condemns in the strongest terms the Russian Foreign Ministry's decision to revoke the accreditation of Austrian journalist Maria Knips-Witting and order her expulsion from the country.
WPF condemns in the strongest terms the recent actions taken by Rosfinmonitorin in designating journalists Maria Menshikova and Anna Loiko as “terrorists and extremists.”
Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who went missing in August 2023, is being held by Russia’s Ministry of Defence, WPF can confirm.
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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.
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