Gorno-Altaysk, Russia – August 30, 2024 — A Russian journalist, Mikhail Mikhailov, has been sentenced in a high-profile case that has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and advocates of free speech. The court in Gorno-Altaysk, located in the southern Altay region, found the 48-year-old journalist guilty of inciting “political hatred” and sentenced him to a prison term. Additionally, Mikhailov has been banned from engaging in any journalistic or publishing activities for the next four years, according to the Net Freedoms Project, a prominent human rights group.

Mikhailov was arrested in 2022 near Moscow after publishing reports on the killing of civilians in Bucha and the Russian bombardment of Mariupol on Listok’s Telegram channel and website. These events, occurring during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have been cited by rights groups as some of the most egregious acts of violence in the conflict.

In a recent court appearance, Mikhailov defended his work and criticized the Kremlin’s portrayal of the Ukrainian leadership as “fascist,” which he argued was a deliberate effort to deceive the public. My publications aimed to dispel these lies, so my readers wouldn’t be misled, wouldn’t participate in conflicts, and wouldn’t harm the Ukrainian people,” Mikhailov said in a speech shared by Listok on social media.

Despite the charges, Mikhailov has denied any wrongdoing, and his defence team is set to present their case next week. The case against him highlights the increasing suppression of dissent and media freedom in Russia since the onset of the war in Ukraine.

Mikhailov’s arrest occurred shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, and his case has become emblematic of the broader crackdown on free speech in the country. The sentencing has sparked an international outcry, with numerous organizations calling for his immediate release and the protection of journalistic freedoms in Russia.