Russian court orders arrest in absentia of top journalist over 'fakes'

FILE PHOTO: People attend the street event "Call the War a War" to attract attention on journalists who died, have been captured, persecuted or missing as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Lviv, Ukraine, March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Roman Baluk

A Moscow court on Friday ordered the arrest in absentia of Alexander Nevzorov, a prominent Russian journalist accused of spreading false information about what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

The court said Nevzorov, who has been put on Russia's international wanted list, would be detained for two months if he ever returns to Russia or is extradited there.