Pskov (Russia) (AFP)

A journalist was fined in Russia on Monday for "justification of terrorism" because of one of her columns, escaping prison in this case which outraged press freedom advocates.

Svetlana Prokopieva, based in Pskov (north-west) and who works for the Russian service of the American media Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, was found guilty by a regional court and fined 500,000 rubles (around 6,160 euros), when the prosecution had requested six years of imprisonment.

Leaving the court with a bouquet of flowers in her hand, the journalist said she wanted to appeal, but also rejoiced that she had not been prohibited from practicing her profession.

"The most important success is not to have been banned from practicing my profession," she said.

A teenager claiming to be an anarchist committed a suicide attack in the FSB building in Arkhanguelsk (north-west), wounding three members of the security services.

A few days later, Mrs. Prokopieva had read a column on the local radio station of Echo in Moscow, a chronicle in which she linked this attack to the political climate established in the country by President Vladimir Putin and denounced the omnipotence of the security services.

The 40-year-old journalist had dismissed the charges against her and denounced a "revenge" of the security services for her "violent and manifestly just criticism".

When the decision was announced on Monday, the journalist's supporters shouted "shame!" and "she is not guilty!", according to an AFP journalist on the spot.

Several human rights NGOs and independent Russian media had denounced the proceedings against Svetlana Prokopieva.

The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Monday "relieved" that the journalist does not go to prison.

The main Russian human rights organization, Memorial, on Monday denounced a case "clearly of a political nature" and which aims to "serve as an example in order to intimidate Russian journalists".

Human Rights Watch also denounced a "dangerous precedent" after the journalist's conviction.

Lonely demonstrations, the only form of protest tolerated in Russia, in support of the journalist took place this weekend and Monday in Pskov and Moscow, and gave rise to arrests.

Vladimir Putin's Russia has been accused since the early 2000s of constantly curbing press freedom and intimidating critical voices.

© 2020 AFP