Sergei Sokolov, the editor-in-chief of
Novaya Gazeta
, was arrested in Moscow this Wednesday morning, his editorial staff announced.
The independent Russian newspaper explained on its website that agents of the Russian Center for Combating Extremism (Center E) took the journalist away in the morning, accused of having
“discredited”
the Russian army in a publication of the media in line.
This reason exposes him to a fine of up to 50,000 rubles.
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The organization Reporters Without Borders
reacted
to
This arrest comes at the same time as Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his speech to the Nation.
This annual meeting before the Federal Assembly – the Russian Parliament – was an opportunity for the head of the Kremlin to show his confidence, both on the military situation and on the country's economy, and to renew his threats of nuclear war against the West.
Sergei Sokolov became editorial director of
Novaya Gazeta
in September 2023 after the resignation of his predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitri Muratov, described as a
“foreign agent”
by the Russian authorities.