On 27 November 2023, Russian investigative police forces summoned Denis Kamalyagin, the editor-in-chief of Pskovskaya Gubernia, a local independent media outlet publishing news from the northwestern region of Pskov, to an interrogation on the following day, as part of a criminal case in which Kamalyagin is suspected of having “discredited” the Russian army. It was unclear due to what publications the journalist had received this accusation.
According to Russian legislation, “discrediting” the army is considered a minor offence normally leading to a moderate fine, if committed once within a year. Repeated “discreditation” of the army within a year is, however, a criminal offence potentially leading to heavier fines or a prison sentence. Kamalyagin had already been fined on “discreditation” charges in October 2022, however it was unclear how authorities established that the new accusation was “repeated”, as over one year had passed since his previous conviction.
The editor-in-chief of Pskovskaya Gubernia, who was one of the first journalists in Russia to be designated as “foreign agent media outlet”, no longer lives in his home country.
If convicted on criminal charges, Kamalyagin faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison, according to article 280.3 of Russia’s criminal code.
UPDATE: On December 19, Kamalyagin was placed on Russia’s ‘wanted’ list.
UPDATE: On 7 February 2024, a court in Pskov arrested Kamalyagin in absentia. Two days earlier, authorities opened a new criminal case against the editor of Pskovskaya Gubernia, this time for allegedly not fulfilling his obligations as a “foreign agent”.