Prosecution petitions Moscow court to arrest former Meduza publisher in absentia
The prosecution has petitioned a Moscow court to arrest the former Meduza publisher Ilya Krasilshchik in absentia. The media executive has been charged with “spreading fakes” about the Russian army under the new Russian law against military disinformation.
The formal motive for the charges was Krasilshchik’s Instagram post about the civilian killings in Bucha. After the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Krasilshchik launched a new media project, Helpdesk.Media, designed to help and support anyone who’s been affected by the war in Ukraine, regardless of nationality.
According to Krasilshchik’s attorney Sergey Badamshin, the motion will be considered on March 16, at the Moscow Basmanny District Court. “It appears to me that Ilya might miss this hearing,” his lawyer added.
Krasilshchik is currently abroad and doesn’t plan to go back to Russia.
In absentia cases chart a legal trend
- Prosecution requests 19-year prison terms for Belarusian opposition leaders, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Pavel Latushko, tried in absentia
- Ukrainian court sentences Russian propagandist Anton Krasovsky to 5 years in prison, in absentia
- Ukraine charges Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, in absentia with justifying the war and repression in occupied regions
- Journalist Veronika Belotserkovskaya sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for ‘disinformation’ about Russian army
- Igor Strelkov, sentenced to life in prison by Hague District Court, returns to Moscow
- Flight MH17 trial concludes with guilty verdicts — and sorrow in the Dutch courtroom The court convicted three perpetrators and awarded damages — including same-sex couples as ‘next of kin’