On 6 August 2024, a court in Moscow sentenced exiled journalist Dmitry Kolezev to 7.5 years in prison on charges of spreading “fake news” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Russian media, authorities earlier opened a criminal case against Kolezev after he shared a post on Instagram, in which he wrote that Russian soldiers were responsible for the massacres of civilians in Bucha near Kyiv. Russian legislation qualifies such publications as “fake news” aiming to “discredit” the Russian army.
On 9 November 2022, the Russian Ministry of Interior placed the editor-in-chief of Republic.ru on its ‘wanted list’.
Dmitry Kolezev leads the popular independent analytical news portal since June 2021. Republic.ru was blocked in Russsia soon after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, when additional restrictions on press freedom were adopted. Kolezev also left Russia at this time.
On 5 June 2024, a court in Moscow placed Kolezev under arrest in absentia. This decision was confirmed by a court of appeals in Moscow on July 9.