Two reporters, Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin, that stood charged of sustaining an “extremist organization,” have actually outlined the severe problems of their pre-trial apprehension inMoscow In very early October, both guys were moved to a jail called “Matrosskaya Tishina” (“Sailors’ Silence”), which is infamous amongst civils rights companies for its negative problems.
DW has actually acquired a duplicate of a letter created by Konstantin Gabov: “The cell is overcrowded. Another inmate and I sleep on the floor,” he reports. “During the day we sit on a bench without a backrest, as there’s no space. The mattress, blanket and pillow are worn out, and there are bedbugs. The atmosphere here is oppressive.”
Prior to his apprehension in April, Gabov functioned as a manufacturer for Reuters information firm. Before that, he had actually additionally helped DW’s Moscow bureau. “It feels like being held in a basement. [There’s only] “One little home window someplace high up,” Gabov composes in the letter.
‘Total absence of personal privacy’
Cameraman Sergey Karelin additionally helped DW in Moscow, along with for the Associated Press (AP) information firm. He, also, defines savage apprehension problems. “I was transferred to cell 246 — four bunks for eight people,” the reporter created in a letter to the Novaya Gazeta paper. He records that the added prisoners rested “on folding cots with a hole in the middle,” existing “side by side and head to foot.”
Karelin whines concerning the “total lack of privacy” in his cell. “The inmates of this cell face serious charges; one is accused of high treason. But these are young lads; only one man is older,” Karelin composes.
Accused of teaming up with an ‘extremist company’
Karelin’s legal representative, Katerina Tertukhina, defines the apprehension problems as “torture,” and states they stop her customer from getting ready for his test. Gabov, Karelin and 2 various other reporters– Antonina Favorskaya and Artyom Kriger– are being tried out fees of participation in a supposed “extremist organization.”
They are charged of sustaining the group of the Kremlin movie critic Alexei Navalny, that passed away behind bars on February 16 of this year. The reporters are stated to have actually created photo and video clip product for Navalny’s YouTube network, for which they might deal with 6 years behind bars. The offenders refute the fees.
The YouTube network “Navalny LIVE” is still being run by participants of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), after the resistance political leader’s fatality. Russian authorities have actually assigned the FBK an “extremist” team, and its participants and fans deal with prosecution in Russia.
A hearing in the reporters’ test happened behind shut doors on October 17. Before their apprehension, Favorskaya and Kriger helped the independent information firm Sota Vision, reporting on the tests of political detainees. Favorskaya had actually covered Navalny’s tests, and had actually seen the “Polar Wolf” chastening swarm in Kharp, in the Arctic Circle, where Alexei Navalny passed away.
After Navalny’s funeral service, Favorskaya recorded individuals laying blossoms at the burial ground where he was hidden. She was jailed on March 17, on among her brows through there. Karelin and Gabov were jailed one month later on, and Artyom Kriger in June.
This post was initially released in Russian
