On January 26, the Russian government declared the Latvian-based news outlet, Meduza, an “undesirable organization.” The decision prohibits the operation of the site within the country, and anyone who “cooperates” or posts links to its content can now be prosecuted. The General Prosecutor of Russia stated that Meduza “poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional system and the security of the Russian Federation.” This move is just one in a series of actions taken by the Russian government to crack down on news outlets since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Background on Meduza
- Meduza was established in 2014 by Russian journalist Galina Timchenko in Latvia. Timchenko was previously the chief editor at Lenta.ru, a popular Russian-language online newspaper, but was fired after publishing an interview with a member of the Right Sector, a far-right Ukrainian nationalist group.
- The decision to set up Meduza in Latvia was made because, as Timchenko stated in an interview with Forbes, “it is possible to establish an independent publishing house in Latvia, while in Russia it is impossible.” Several former journalists from Lenta.ru joined Timchenko’s new organization, which quickly became the largest Russian independent news site.
- In 2021, the Russian authorities put Meduza on a list of “foreign agents,” which stripped the outlet of local advertisers and forced it to raise money through crowdfunding. Last year, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Meduza published an editorial condemning Moscow’s move. The website was then blocked in the country and accused of “systematic dissemination of fakes.”
Russia’s Crackdown on Independent News Media
- The Russian government has intensified its action against independent news media since the start of the war. In May 2022, a law was passed against spreading “false information” about the invasion, and access was blocked to Facebook and major foreign news outlets.
- The Russian authorities claimed that these banned outlets and social media platforms engaged in “discrimination against Russian news media” and that journalists writing critically about the war were “undermining the national interest.” As a result, the websites of the Voice of America, the BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty were blocked.
- At least 133 people have faced criminal prosecution under this law, according to a Financial Times report. The report also states that “hundreds of journalists have fled Russia to avoid being prosecuted for the war and continued to report from afar in countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Georgia.”
- Over 50 other organizations are also on Russia’s “undesirable” list, including Russian investigative news outlets iStories and Proekt, and the Netherlands-based Bellingcat.
Synopsis
The outlawing of Meduza in Russia marks a continued effort by the government to crack down on independent news media and control the spread of information. This action will have significant implications for journalism and freedom of the press in the country, as journalists who report critically on the government and its actions are now at risk of criminal prosecution. The international community should continue to closely monitor the situation and advocate for the protection of journalists and their right to report freely.