On 23 July 2024, a court in Moscow sentenced Russian journalist and writer Mikhail Zygar to 8.5 years of prison in absentia on charges of disseminating “fake news” on the massacre of Ukrainian civilians by Russian soldiers in Bucha.
Earlier, on 13 March 2024, Russian authorities opened a criminal case against the journalist. The news was first reported by Russian state-controlled news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS, which quoted anonymous sources among law enforcement authorities. The criminal case against Zygar was also confirmed by Telegram channels Shot and Astra, which also quoted anonymous sources.
According to the publications, the case against Zygar was opened for alleged dissemination of “fake news” about the Russian army. The reason for the case would have been social media posts by Zygar related to massacres of civilian populations by Russian forces in Bucha, during Russia’s occupation of the region of Kyiv in February-March 2022.
Zygar responded to the news with an ironic publication on Instagram, in which he “thanked all those who congratulated [him] on the opening of a criminal case”.
In the past Mikhail Zygar was the editor-in-chief of TV Rain, Russia’s main independent TV channel. He also worked at Kommersant, a newspaper previously independent from the Russian government. He left Russia following the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
UPDATE: On March 28, the Pskov city court refused to examine a separate case against Zygar for “discreditation of the Russian army”, in which the journalist risked receiving a fine, the independent outlet MediaZona reported. It was unclear why a court in Pskov was examining a case against Zygar, who lived in Moscow before his departure from Russia.
UPDATE: On 9 April 2024, Russia’s Ministry of Interior placed Zygar on the country’s ‘wanted’ list, on the basis that a criminal investigation had been opened into his activities.
UPDATE: On 16 April 2024, a court in Moscow satisfied a request by investigators and arrested Zygar in absentia.
UPDATE: On 1 October 2024, a court of appeals in Moscow confirmed the 8.5 year prison sentence earlier handed to Zygar, Russian independent media reported.