INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
4 Russian journalists were sentencedto 5.5 years in prison each on Tuesdayafter authorities declared that they worked with late Kremlin
critic Alexei Navalnys banned organizations.Artyom Kriger, Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov and Sergei Karelin were found guilty of
participating in an extremist group after a trial performed behind closed doors
All 4 deny their guilt.Video journalists Gabov and Karelin had worked for a variety of outlets including major global firms Gabov with
Reuters and Karelin with the Associated Press.In his courtroom speech, Karelin said he shot video footage for Popular Politics, a YouTube
channel introduced by Navalnys allies that he agreed to work for after an attorney told him it had actually not been designated as extremist
or a foreign agent.The Moscow Times previously published Krigers final word in court
Favorskayas letter including her speech was obstructed by jail censors
We are now publishing Gabov and Karelins courtroom speeches.Statements have been modified for length and clarity.Sergei Karelins court
argumentI have operated in television since 2004, and I invested my first eight years in the industry as a sound engineer at NTV Channel
Throughout that time, I took a trip to lots of countries as part of the presidential press swimming pool, and I felt a growing desire to
inform stories about my country, to record what was taking place here.I later worked for a number of years at the 360 television channel as
I hold a professional degree from the State Institute of Television and Radio, with a diploma in film and tv camerawork, in addition to in
teaching.Ive always wanted to make documentaries and tell stories about life in my country a nation I deeply like
However considering that this is rather a tough pursuit, specifically financially, I continued to work at television channels to support
myself.Since 2017, Ive been certified by the Russian Foreign Ministry and worked as a cameraman for globally respected Western media outlets
and news agencies.In 2022, my life altered dramatically
Early that year, the business where I had actually worked for the previous 5 years stopped operations in Russia
I lost another client due to budget plan cuts
In February, [the war] began
It impacted the lives of everyone in our country and beyond
Many Russian citizens emigrated
And in March, I ended up being the father of a wonderful daughter, Miroslava.We might have left too I have a 2nd citizenship however my
household is here, my good friends are here, the ones now standing in the corridor
My grandfather turned 101 in November
I like my country, Moscow, our village in the Pskov region, nature and my work here! This is my home.My other half went on maternity leave
and my financial duties grew substantially
At the exact same time, it became increasingly challenging to discover consistent, well-paid work, so I had to handle nearly any filming
Still, as an expert, it was necessary for me to protect my self-respect as a journalist to preserve regard for my subjects and for
storytelling, and to maintain journalistic ethics.Around that time, I was offered a job filming street interviews for the YouTube channel
I sought advice from an attorney the media outlet was not [officially] designated as extremist or a foreign representative and so I agreed
Offered my desire to tell stories about life in my nation, I was truly interested in hearing individuals unfiltered opinions.Street
interviews are a standard journalistic technique and Ive shot them for various editorial groups
I wish to worry that even then, it was essential for me to do the task truthfully to engage with all perspectives and to film individuals
from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs
I also recorded public occasions for various outlets from performances to mass rallies
At the rallies, I existed strictly as a cameraman working under editorial direction.Everything Ive explained boils down to something: I like
my nation and my family thats all
Despite having a second citizenship, I never ever wanted to leave
I wanted to raise my daughter here, in our stunning country.I want this to be a nation where individuals are not maltreated for their views
or positions, where they arent identified a fifth column or turned into targets for others
I mean freedom of expression, for individuals right to speak easily, and for the medias right to reveal Russia and the world whats
happening.I imagine a future in which reporters can work freely, without censorship or pressure
I want to see a strong civil society in this country and for the rights of its people to be respected.Sergei Karelins last wordI am in jail
for my professional activity, for my truthful and unbiased method to journalism, and for my love of my household and my country.Since Ive
already spoken about my operate in the courtroom, I now want to say something else something personal
Id like to attempt to resolve the most essential individual in my life my child Mira, whom I havent seen in 11 months
And I dont understand when I will
You understand, of course, that if Im convicted, my entire family will suffer my 101-year-old grandfather, a war veteran, my elderly moms
and dads who are doing their finest to hang in there, and most of all my gorgeous daughter.I never ever imagined my kid would end up being a
victim of political repression much like the kids of those persecuted in the 1930s
Can you envision such a fate for your own children?So yes, Im now a papa on an organization trip, like many others today much like a lot of
I do not know when Ill see her once again, not to mention hold her in my arms.Konstantin Gabovs last wordToday I am being pursued my expert
All my life, working as a journalist at a number of media outlets, I have acted in strict accordance with the Russian Constitution
Short article 29 guarantees flexibility of thought and speech
Everybody can freely look for, get, send, produce and disperse details by any legal means
Freedom of the mass media is ensured
I have actually never been a member of any political party
I have always believed that a reporters duty is to objectively show the viewpoints of individuals with various views, assisting them to be
heard by those in power.As early as last spring, I was producing reports about trials of activists previously, on the closure of [Nobel
Peace Prize-winning human rights group] Memorial, the closure of the Sakharov Center and the dismantling of the Moscow Helsinki Group
Federal Security Service officers ran background checks on my employment history from a local television station in the city of Syktyvkar to
major global media like Reuters.For some factor, a payment from the German company Deutsche Welle in May 2024 was cited by [state watchdog]
Rosfinmonitoring when I was contributed to the register of extremists and terrorists
My work for [ United States -funded media outlets] Present Time and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty became part of this case.Out of the 5
episodes utilized as proof in my case, only one has witnesses
The participants validate that I carried out the interview
The video was published on the NavalnyLIVE YouTube channel on January 23, 2024, under the title: If you were face to face with Putin, what
would you say?The private investigators from the Russian Investigative Committees Main Investigation Department did not develop any
correspondence in between me and [Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation] members, nor did they discover evidence that I had actually gotten
projects or money from them, subscribed to their channels, reposted or liked their material
Id like to tension that I have actually never ever had any administrative offenses in my life
Now Im being charged under one of the most serious short articles in the Russian Criminal Code, under the area Crimes Against the
Constitutional Order: Participation in an extremist organization.As somebody with a background in cultural studies, I am completely aware of
Throughout its history, Russia has stayed the very same theres absolutely nothing brand-new in the current situation
Russia has constantly had a skill for creating issues not just for its own people, but likewise for neighboring nations
Independent journalism is now equated with extremism
Such rigidness is a result of a polarized society.Even behind bars, I believe that the issues and advancements in Russia must be reported on
Working under such extreme conditions is hard, but possible
And, most notably necessary.My work has actually constantly had to do with offering voice to those who can not be heard, and covering
occasions that are vital for society
I believe that journalism is not a crime it is a vital part of a democratic society.We need to remember that every voice matters, and just
together can we change things for the better
I hope that one day we will live in a country where freedom of speech is not simply a right, however an essential part of everyones life.
