Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against prominent blogger Anton Nosik after he supported Russia's air strikes on Syria on his Livejournal blog, independent Ekho Moskvy radio reported, citing an unidentified source close to the investigation.
Nosik is accused of inciting hatred and hostility, according to the source.
An investigation was launched in November last year following a blog post by Nosik about Syrian refugees in which he “warmly welcomed” Russian air strikes in Syria, a representative of the Investigative Committee told the RBC news agency.
“I will not grieve if Syria is razed to the ground. Moreover, I will be thankful,” reads the post that is still available on the blogging site.
A speech on the Syrian crisis made by the activist on the Ekho Moskvy radio station was also investigated for extremism.
“I’ve never seen a proper legal definition of extremism since the law came into force,” Nosik told the RBC news agency, adding that he would not delete the controversial post.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
