Russian security forces raided the home of the editor-in-chief of a young investigative media, author of recent investigations into the security services, on Friday.
The online newspaper
Vajnie istorie
("Important Stories") reported that Roman Anine's apartment had been searched by agents from the security services (FSB).
Read also: Russia: Russian journalist dies after setting herself on fire
According to his lawyer, quoted by this source, the journalist is targeted for an investigation for
"violation of privacy by abusing his professional duties"
, an offense punishable by up to four years in prison.
He is due to go with his lawyers on Friday evening to the Russian Investigation Committee, in charge of the main criminal investigations, the media said.
Roman Anine, 34, also previously worked for
Novaya Gazeta
, Russia's most reputable opposition newspaper.
The editorial staff of
Novaïa Gazeta
assured that this case was linked to the opening of an investigation for the same reason, in 2016, after the publication by Roman Anine of an article arguing that the wife of one of the most powerful in the country, Igor Setchine, owned a yacht valued at $ 100 million.
After the publication of this investigation in the
Novaïa Gazeta
, the newspaper was convicted of defamation following a complaint by Igor Setchine.
"What is happening at the moment with Roman Anine is a story of revenge,"
Novaïa Gazeta
said Friday evening
, in a statement.
Created in 2020, the media
Vajnie istorie
has most of its editorial staff in Riga, Latvia, and correspondents in Russia.
Recently, he published articles on possible links between an FSB official and organized crime, as well as articles on torture in Russian prisons and the surveillance of the incarcerated opponent Alexei Navalny by the security services.