On 9 December 2023, Russian independent media reported that authorities had opened a criminal case against Andrey Serafimov, a journalist from Tomsk currently collaborating with Meduza and Novaya Gazeta Europe. The case was opened for alleged appeals by the journalist to commit acts endangering the security of the state with the use of mass media (article 280.4.2 of Russia’s criminal code). While it is unclear for what reason the case was opened, Serafimov believes it related to social media posts in which he called upon Russians not to go to drafting offices (Russian men who are drafted typically receive a notice requiring them to visit such an office in order to be drafted: those who disregard such notices can be fined).
According to Serafimov, security officials had earlier come to the home of Serafimov’s relatives in Russia, and later also summoned them for an interrogation. In a comment to Novaya Gazeta Europe, the journalist said the decision would not influence his activities, and that he would continue to publish. Serafimov currently does not live in Russia.
UPDATE: On January 12, independent Russian news outlet Verstka reported that Serafimov had been put on Russia’s ‘wanted’ list.
UPDATE: On 15 June 2024, Russian independent media reported that police in his home city of Tomsk had placed announcements around the city with the information that Serafimov was wanted by the police.