Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Russian Police Raid Home Of Investigative Journalist Over Slander Case

Russian Police Raid Home Of Investigative Journalist Over Slander Case

The Insider has worked with Bellingcat on projects including an investigation into what Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny says was an attempt to kill him.
Russian police took Roman Dobrokhotov, editor-in-chief of investigative media outlet The Insider, in for questioning over a slander case and searched his home on Wednesday, moves allies said were part a crackdown on media critical of the Kremlin.

The Insider is an online outlet that has published stories about the lives of Russia's secretive elite and collaborated with Bellingcat, an outlet whose investigations into Moscow's intelligence services have been condemned by Russian state officials as Western propaganda, something it denies.

The Insider, which the justice ministry last week labelled a "foreign agent" ahead of September's parliamentary elections, has worked with Bellingcat on projects including an investigation into what Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny says was an attempt to kill him.

The "foreign agent" term carries negative Soviet-era connotations and subjects those designated to extra government scrutiny and labelling requirements.

Dobrokhotov posted his home address on Twitter and said police searches were under way there. "A lawyer wouldn't hurt," he wrote. There was no immediate comment from the police.

Hours later, a Reuters witness saw Dobrokhotov leave his home with police. He told reporters he was being taken in for questioning in a slander case involving a tweet about a Dutch journalist.

A lawyer for the Dutch journalist said the case related to allegations that her client cooperated with the Russian security services.

Speaking after Dobrokhotov had been questioned, his lawyer told the RIA news agency that his client remained a witness not the accused in the slander case.

Police confiscated Dobrokhotov's laptops, phones, tablets and passport, said OVD-Info, a rights group that monitors police action.

Sergei Ezhov, a colleague, said Dobrokhotov had been planning to leave Russia later on Wednesday.

Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, who is herself under house arrest over accusations she broke coronavirus restrictions at a protest, said the legal pressure looked like retribution for The Insider's investigative reporting.

"It's clear why (this is happening): they do excellent investigations," she wrote.

The Kremlin says Russians have a wide variety of news sources to choose from and that any cases being pursued against outlets result from specific circumstances and are motivated by upholding the law rather than politics.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
EU Majority Demands Hungary Reverse Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
Top Hotel Picks for 2025 Stays in Budapest Revealed
Iron Maiden Unveils 2025 Tour Setlist in Budapest
Chinese Film Week Opens in Budapest to Promote Cultural Exchange
Budapest Airport Launches Direct Flights to Shymkent
Von der Leyen Denies Urging EU Officials to Skip Budapest Pride
Alcaraz and Sinner Advance with Convincing Wins at Roland Garros
EU Ministers Lack Consensus on Sanctioning Hungary Over Rule of Law
EU Nations Urge Action Against Hungary's Pride Parade Ban
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from Europe
Russia Deploys Motorbike Squads in Ukraine Conflict
Critics Accuse European Court of Human Rights of Overreach
Spain Proposes 100% Tax on Non-EU Holiday Home Purchases
German Intelligence Labels AfD as Far-Right Extremist
Geert Wilders Threatens Dutch Coalition Over Migration Policy
Hungary Faces Multiple Challenges Amid EU Tensions and Political Shifts
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Any trade deal with US must be based on respect not threats', says EU commissioner
UK Leads in Remote Work Adoption, Averaging 1.8 Days a Week
Thirteen Killed in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
High-Profile Incidents and Political Developments Dominate Global News
Netanyahu Accuses Western Leaders of 'Emboldening Hamas'
Ukraine and Russia Conduct Largest Prisoner Exchange of the War
×