RusNews journalist Mariya Ponomarenko was detained and brought to the Investigative Committee in St. Petersburg. Ponomarenko was charged with allegedly spreading “fake” information about casualties in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Telegram. The journalist published information on Telegram channel “No Censorship”, which has the audience of 1600 people. Ponomarenko was forcefully transferred from her detention center to a pyschiatric hospital, where she was sent to undergo a full examination. During her stay, she was not be allowed to receive letters and was allegedly submitted to medical procedures by force. Family visits were also forbidden. Ponomarenko was then again transferred to a detention center, where in September she attempted to commit suicide. She was then allowed to leave the center in November to remain under house arrest.
UPDATE: On 27 January 2023, Ponomarenko was again placed under arrest after she left her home and went to a police station following a fight with her ex-husband. On 7 February, prosecutors asked judges to sentence her to nine years of prison and to impose a five year ban on her managing online publications.