chief editor of the Altai newspaper “Listok” Sergey Mikhailov
Sergei Mikhailov, the editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper “Listok,” has been sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. The conviction follows his reporting on the mass killings of civilians during the Russian occupation of Bucha, a town on the outskirts of Kyiv. The case has drawn international attention, with the independent Russian outlet Meduza highlighting it as part of a broader crackdown on independent journalism in Russia.
In addition to the prison sentence, Mikhailov has been barred from engaging in journalism or publishing activities for four years after his release. He is also prohibited from managing websites during this period.
Mikhailov was arrested in April 2022, shortly after his newspaper published a series of articles detailing atrocities committed by Russian forces in Bucha and the destruction of a hospital and theater in Mariupol. The trial began in June 2023, with Mikhailov consistently maintaining his innocence.
“I absolutely reject the charges. For all these years, I have written what I believed to be the truth, even when the truth hurts,” Mikhailov stated in his final remarks before the court. “The purpose of our publications is to bring the truth to our citizens, to protect them from the lies of state propaganda. The fog of lies has dissipated, and I do not want our readers to be seduced by these lies and willingly become participants in the war, to become killers.”
The crackdown led by Russian President Vladimir Putin since the onset of the war has resulted in the arrests of thousands of citizens, including journalists, activists, and political opponents. According to human rights organization Amnesty International, at least 21,000 people have been targeted by Russia’s repressive laws aimed at silencing anti-war activists and independent voices.
