Russia: Russia Adds Ukrainian Journalist Yanina Sokolova to Wanted List
Sokolova’s outspoken criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sticks bullseye on reporters’ back
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: August 7, 2023
Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs adds Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova to its “terrorist” wanted list on undisclosed charges. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is continuously appalled by the Kremlin’s hostility towards journalists and critical press. Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Russia has escalated its crackdown on media, imprisoning journalists and shutting down independent media outlets. We demand the ministry immediately remove Sokolova’s name from its wanted list.
On August 7, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs included prominent Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova on its wanted list, according to Kremlin-aligned news agency TASS.
The agency claims that Sokolova was designated as a terrorist and extremist by Rosfinmonitoring, the Russian Federal Financial Monitoring Service, in March. The message states that Sokolova is being sought under a specific article of the Criminal Code but does not specify which article it refers to.
Sokolova, a well-known Ukrainian journalist, social activist, and blogger, responded to reports of her inclusion on the wanted list with a touch of irony. "Well, thank God. I have begun to worry whether my Russophobia was lacking," she wrote.
The host and author of the popular Randevu program on 5 Kanal (Channel 5) is the latest target of Russia in its crackdown on journalists in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin implementing a series of laws that criminalize honest reporting on the conflict. Journalists, both in occupied territories and those reporting in Russia and from abroad, have faced harassment, detention, and even imprisonment.
Siberian journalist Maria Ponomarenko is another target of Russia’s crusade, Ponomarenko was handed a six-year prison sentence in January 2023 for sharing information about civilian casualties in Mariupol. This harsh punishment serves as a chilling reminder of the risks faced by those who dare to shed light on the grim realities of war.
Journalists living in exile have not been spared from Russia's campaign against press freedom either. Numerous critical voices that challenge the Kremlin's narrative have found themselves on the country's wanted list or sentenced in absentia. In February, food blogger Veronika Belotserkovskaya, who lives in exile in France, was sentenced to nine years in prison for an Instagram post. Investigative journalist Christo Grovez from Bulgaria was added to Russia’s wanted list in December 2022 for his reporting with Bellingcat. Grovez now faces a criminal case, accused of spreading "fake news" about the Russian army.
These cases paint a troubling picture of the state of press freedom in Russia. The Kremlin's efforts to silence dissenting voices have reached alarming heights, leaving journalists and media professionals vulnerable to persecution for simply doing their job — reporting the truth. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the Russian Internal Affairs Ministry remove Yanina Sokolova’s name from its wanted list, and the government ceases weaponizing terrorism and fake news legislation to target critical journalists.
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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