Mikhail Afanasyev

Affiliated media: Novy Focus, Editor-in-chief

Incident date: April 14, 2022

Attack type:

• Pressure on a media worker via judicial and/or economic pressure on relatives and loved ones

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Mediazona

Location: Russia, Republic of Khakassia, Abakan

Additional information:

The journalist was searched at two addresses in connection with a case on «fakes» about the Russian army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). His equipment, bank cards, cash, journalist IDs, car documents and keys, and foreign passport were confiscated. The criminal case was initiated for the text «Objectors, or why 11 riot policemen of the Russian Guard Service in Khakassia refused to participate in the «special operation» in Ukraine». According to the investigation, Afanasyev provided inaccurate information about the number of killed, missing and wounded servicemen, as well as about the «improper level of material support» in the Russian army. On April 15, 2022, the Abakan City Court sent the journalist to the pre-trial detention center. Searches were conducted not only in the journalist’s apartment but also in the apartment of his mother.