A journalist for the Russian edition of Forbes magazine has been detained on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military. Sergei Mingazov is currently being held in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk. His lawyer, Konstantin Bubon, confirmed the detention on social media.
Mingazov's detention stems from social media posts he made regarding the Ukrainian city of Bucha. This city gained international attention when over 400 bodies of civilians were discovered, with many showing signs of torture, after Russian forces withdrew in April 2022.
Mingazov is set to appear in court on Saturday to face charges of spreading false information. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. The Russian government has implemented strict measures against any criticism of the military since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
New laws have been enacted to criminalize the dissemination of allegedly false information about the military or any statements deemed as discrediting the military. This crackdown has resulted in the arrest and sentencing of journalists, opposition figures, and ordinary citizens. Notably, activist Vladimir Kara-Murza received the longest sentence of 25 years.
For more updates on the ongoing conflict, you can follow the AP’s coverage of the war at AP Russia-Ukraine Coverage.
