Russia has reportedly arrested two journalists who have been working with international news outlets.
Sergei Karelin – a Russian and Israeli citizen – was detained on Friday, the Associated Press reported. He has previously worked with the news agency.
He is accused of “extremism” in connection with alleged work for the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s foundation – charges he denies.
A day earlier, Konstantin Gabov was detained on similar charges.
Mr Gabov has worked with outlets including Reuters.
Both men face a minimum of two years in prison if convicted of alleged “participation in an extremist organisation”. They are the latest journalists to face charges amid heightened repression in Russia, which has seen freedom of the press severely limited.
“The Associated Press is very concerned by the detention of Russian video journalist Sergey Karelin,” the US press agency said in a statement. “We are seeking additional information.”
Mr Karelin and Mr Gabov are accused of helping prepare videos for the YouTube channel of Mr Navalny, who was for years Russia’s most high-profile critic of President Vladimir Putin. Mr Navalny died in February in an Arctic penal colony where he had been imprisoned.
In 2021, organisations linked to Mr Navalny were banned as “extremist” – meaning those who support them risk prison.
A journalist for Forbes Russia, Sergei Mingazov, was also arrested this week. He is accused of criticising the Russian army. In 2022 Russia passed a law imposing a jail term of up to 15 years for spreading “fake” news about the military.
Mr Karelin, 41, has worked for the Associated Press and German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle. Mr Gabov is a freelance producer who has worked for organisations including Reuters.
Last October, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been held for over a year on espionage charges. On Tuesday, a Moscow court on Tuesday denied the US citizen’s appeal against the extension of his pre-trial detention.
Both Mrs Kurmasheva and Mr Gershkovich deny the charges
