Russia: searches of investigative journalists

Russian police raided the homes of several investigative journalists and their relatives on Tuesday (June 29) (illustrative image).

AFP - NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA

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2 min

Pressure on independent media continues in Russia.

The police raided the homes of several investigative journalists and their relatives on Tuesday (June 29).

A criminal investigation has been opened.

Operations carried out before the publication of an investigation into the alleged wealth of the Minister of the Interior.

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Formally, the searches were carried out in connection with a defamation case dating back to 2017. At the time, the journalists Roman Badanine and Maria Jolobova had broadcast on independent television Dojd a series of investigations entitled "The Petersburg", on influential figures of the Russian northern capital, considered close to Vladimir Putin.

One of the heroes of the film, the controversial businessman Ilia Traber, who is referred to there as "the 

so-called king of the St. Petersburg gangsters

 ", had filed a defamation complaint.

However, as Pavel Tchikov, who heads the Agora human rights association, points out, the case has been barred since 2019.

► 

Also to listen: 

In Russia, the power offensive against the independent media

The Minister of the Interior in the crosshairs

The journalists targeted by the searches are now working at Proïekt, an investigation site known for its investigations into the corruption of Russian elites.

In addition to its editor-in-chief Roman Badanine and journalist Maria Jolobova, the police also arrested deputy editor-in-chief Mikhail Roubin, who had not worked on the 2017 film.

On its site, Proiekt's management suggests that one should look to the side of the subject released today: an investigation into the real estate of Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and his alleged links to organized crime.

The editorial regrets " 

that the police are interested in investigative journalists, and not in the heroes of their investigations 

".

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