Former Meduza correspondent Ilya Azar suspected of ‘discrediting’ Russian military, may face charges for anti-war statements

The Russian journalist Ilya Azar has come under scrutiny from the Investigative Committee, in connection with what he wrote on Facebook last June, 100 days into the Ukraine invasion:

100 (one hundred) days of this insane, senseless, disgusting war. I have nothing new to say, so I can only repeat: stop this war immediately, you motherfuckers, stop killing children, old people, women, and men in Ukraine, and destroying our own country’s future.

Azar is a special correspondent for Novaya Gazeta who wrote for Meduza in the past.

RIA Novosti cites a law enforcement official who confirmed that Azar may face felony charges under the law against “discrediting” the Russian military.

Russia’s Criminal Code was amended a week into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It now criminalizes Russians whose anti-war position is at odds with the state.