Crimean journalist charged with violation of Russia’s territorial integrity

The Russian security officers carry out a search at home of a Crimean journalist. The journalist is reportedly Radio Liberty correspondent Nikolai Semyonov, who works for the Crimea. Realities project.

“The security officers are currently carrying out a search at home of the journalist of Radio Liberty, his Crimean wing ‘Crimea. Realities’,” head of NTV correspondent office in Crimea Oleg Kriuchkov posted on Facebook.

In turn, the Crimea. Realities editorial office says they now check this information and do not comment on until the circumstances are clarified.

Photo credit: POLITNAVIGATOR.NET

Russian-controlled prosecutor of Crimea Natalia Poklonskaya said in a commentary to TASS news agency that a criminal proceeding was opened against the Crimea. Realities journalist over the calls to violate the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.

“The criminal case was opened against the journalist under Part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The journalist wrote and published the article which contained the statements aimed at violating Russia’s territorial integrity. Neither journalists nor anyone else can make such statements,” Poklonskaya said.

She did not specify the name of the suspect.

The prosecutor’s office of the Russian-annexed Crimea has recognized criminal prosecution for publishing the article “on the information service website” as lawful and reasonable.

Its author, as stated on the website of the Crimean “prosecutor’s office”, allegedly “made statements calling for taking isolation measures, including combat operations, in respect of the peninsula and its inhabitants.”

Poklonskaya personally follows the investigation progress.

She views the article devoted to “the blockade of Crimea” by the Ukrainian activists as justification of terrorism, TASS notes.

“They actually justify the actions of extremists and terrorists. We will not allow to commit the crimes against Russian citizens and Russia as a whole. The status of a journalist obliges to comply with the legislation requirements,” she said.

The preventive measure for a journalist in the case under Part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code (public incitement to commit acts aimed at the violation of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, made using the mass media or electronic or information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet) is being considered now.

As a reminder, the Crimea. Realities project launched the Radio Liberty after Russia had annexed Crimea in March 2014.