In several regions of Russia, mass searches were carried out on journalists due to connections with a former State Duma deputy.

The suspects are accused of working on Ilya Ponomarev’s project “Morning of February” and “discrediting” the Russian army.

On the morning of September 8, massive searches took place in several regions of Russia; they affected more than a dozen activists and journalists from different cities. In almost all cases, they are accused of “discrediting or fake news” about the Russian army and the armed conflict in Ukraine.

According to media reports and lawyers of the detainees, most of the suspects are associated with former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev - a criminal case has been opened against him “for fakes”, he has already been arrested in absentia after escaping from the country.

According to investigators, the former deputy “continues to conduct destructive activities” from abroad, including through the anti-war project “Morning of February.” Some of those whose houses were searched are called administrators of the project’s pages on social networks.

• In Yekaterinburg, they came to search the editor-in-chief of Vecherniye Vedomosti, Vladislav Postnikov. The security forces broke down the door, but found no one inside - the editorial office said that Postnikov himself would appear for questioning. In his apartment they found a business card from the Ukrainian presidential elections in 2014, thanks from the Voice movement and a certificate from the American Open World program.

Search in Postnikov's apartment. RIA Novosti video

• In Tyumen, a search was carried out in the apartment of freelance correspondent for Sibir.Realii Yulia Glazova. The security forces confiscated all the equipment, but the journalist herself was released.
• In Rostov-on-Don, activist and RusNews journalist Bella Nasibyan was searched. Before this, her bank accounts were blocked and then taken away in an unknown direction.
• In Moscow, a search took place in the apartment of photographer Ruslan Sukhushin. All equipment was confiscated from him, and then he was detained and taken for interrogation. According to police officers, they came to the journalist not only because of “ties with Ponomarev”, but also because of posts on social networks “defaming the Russian army.”
• Searches were also carried out at the homes of Oryol activists and journalists - Sergei Nosov and the administrator of the Orlets telegram channel Viktor Zaryanov . According to the publication 7x7, this is also connected with Ponomarev, and a criminal case “about fakes” was opened against Nosov himself back in June.

In addition, searches were conducted in the Moscow region of four employees and the director of the Odintsovo-INFO portal Andrei Ostroukhov. According to him, the security forces were looking for server equipment, but did not seize anything and did not detain anyone, only the manager was summoned for questioning. This case is no longer connected with Ponomarev; journalists are accused of “discrediting” because of seven materials on the website about military operations in Ukraine.

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