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Russian Journalist Sentenced to 8.5 Years in Absentia for War Coverage
Ekaterina Fomina, a veteran Russian investigative journalist, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison by a Moscow court on March 31, 2025, for allegedly spreading “fake news” about Ukraine motivated by “political hatred.” The conviction came while Fomina was already living in exile in Europe, having fled Russia shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Before the war, Fomina was known for her traditional investigative approach at the independent outlet iStories, traveling to remote regions of Russia and conducting in-person interviews with rural families. “My main tools were my legs and arms,” she explained, describing her preference for on-the-ground reporting.
In the months leading up to Russia’s invasion, Fomina and her colleagues sensed the increasing pressure on independent media. “We knew that if the government labeled us an ‘undesirable organization’—a criminal label in Russia—we could be arrested,” she said. While newsrooms had contingency plans and journalists secured European visas, Fomina admits they were still unprepared for the magnitude of what was to come.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Fomina immediately focused on war coverage. She quickly realized that accurately reporting on the conflict from inside Russia would be impossible without facing criminal prosecution under the country’s wartime censorship laws. The Kremlin had rapidly implemented legislation criminalizing what it deemed “false information” about the military, effectively outlawing independent war reporting.
“The polarization, the open war towards another country, made me realize that my position in society was completely different from those of many people around me,” Fomina said. “It was very difficult for me to accept that my fellow citizens could support such cruelty.”
Her departure from Russia was hurried and emotional. She packed just one suitcase, keeping only a few mementos from her homeland—gifts from loved ones and a T-shirt with Cyrillic letters. In the middle of a cold March night, she bid farewell to her mother and grandmother, uncertain when or if they would reunite.
“The scale of my personal tragedy couldn’t be compared to the scale of the tragedy happening in Ukraine,” she reflected. “Only years later can I evaluate how awful, how tragic, and how traumatic those events were for me.”
In exile, Fomina was forced to transform her reporting methods. No longer able to conduct on-site investigations in Russia, she pivoted to open-source intelligence techniques, particularly to document potential war crimes. Her most significant work came when she investigated Russian soldiers involved in the Bucha massacre, where hundreds of Ukrainian civilians were killed during the Russian occupation of the Kyiv suburb in March 2022.
The investigation began with evidence from a survivor’s phone that had been confiscated and used by Russian soldiers to call their families before being abandoned. Using the call logs and leaked data, Fomina identified the soldiers’ relatives and subsequently verified which military units had been deployed to Bucha during the atrocities.
This investigative work led to her arrest in absentia in Russia during the summer of 2024, culminating in this year’s prison sentence. The case against Fomina is part of a broader crackdown on independent Russian journalists who have reported on the war from exile. According to press freedom watchdogs, dozens of Russian journalists now face similar charges and potential sentences.
“On the one hand, you know that you did everything right,” Fomina said about her journalistic principles. “But on the other hand, you are facing such limitations and such punishment.”
Four years into her exile, Fomina continues her work despite the personal cost. “I suppress my trauma in order to continue doing this,” she said. “But I can’t stop doing my work because the war crimes are continuing.”
Without a significant regime change in Russia, Fomina’s return to her homeland remains virtually impossible. Her case highlights the perilous state of press freedom in Russia and the personal sacrifices made by journalists committed to documenting the truth about the war in Ukraine.
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14 Comments
Sentencing a journalist to 8.5 years in prison for their war coverage is an outrageous abuse of power. This is a blatant attempt to silence critical reporting and control the narrative.
Sadly, this seems to be part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Russia. The government is clearly threatened by independent journalism that challenges its official version of events.
This case highlights the dangerous climate for journalists, especially those covering sensitive geopolitical issues. Journalists must be able to do their jobs without fear of retaliation.
Absolutely. The conviction of this journalist in absentia is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence independent reporting. We need to stand up for press freedom wherever it is under threat.
This case is a stark reminder of the risks journalists face, especially those covering sensitive topics like war. We must continue to support and protect press freedom around the world.
Absolutely. Journalists play a vital role in holding governments accountable and informing the public. Their work should be celebrated, not criminalized.
It’s disturbing to see the increasing threats and restrictions facing journalists, not just in Russia but around the world. A free press is the cornerstone of a democratic society.
You’re right. Governments that try to suppress critical reporting are often trying to hide their own misdeeds. We must remain vigilant in defending journalists’ ability to hold power to account.
This is deeply concerning. Journalists should be able to report the facts without fear of retaliation. Cracking down on press freedom is a dangerous path for any government to take.
I agree. A free and independent press is essential for a healthy democracy. We must stand up for journalists’ rights to do their work without harassment or intimidation.
Imprisoning a journalist for their reporting is a clear violation of press freedom and freedom of expression. This is a worrying trend that we must strongly condemn.
I agree. Authoritarian regimes often try to control the narrative by cracking down on independent media. We must remain vigilant in defending the rights of journalists to investigate and report freely.
Sentencing a journalist to 8.5 years in prison for their reporting is a blatant attack on press freedom. This is a concerning development that deserves widespread condemnation.
I agree. This case highlights the need for stronger international protections for journalists, who are increasingly facing threats and intimidation for doing their jobs.