Journalist Svetlana Anokhina learns about her criminal case from media

Law enforcers did not send any documents to Svetlana Anokhina, a Dagestani journalist and human rights defender, about initiating a criminal case against her under the article on discrediting the Russian Army, Svetlana herself has stated, noting that she lives abroad. The criminal prosecution of Anokhina may be related to her activities, Svetlana Gannushkina* and Alexandra Miroshnikova, human rights defenders, have commented.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 11, 2022, Svetlana Anokhina, who had left Dagestan due to threats, reported on the visit of law enforcers to the house where her 93-year-old mother lives. Law enforcers asked about Svetlana's publications about the events in Ukraine, the journalist then reported.

According to investigators, in April 2022, the suspect publicly disseminated deliberately false information on the Instagram** about the use of the Russian Armed Forces.

"I receive threats all the time – since 1999, when I started doing journalism in Dagestan. Threats ... always concern my feminist viewpoints," Ms Anokhina has stated.

Svetlana Gannushkina*, the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, believes that Anokhina will be able to return to Russia only after the change of power.

Galina Arapova*, the director of the Centre for the Protection of Media Rights*, has noted that if Anokhina returns to Russia, she will be detained.

According to Alexandra Miroshnikova, a member of the SK SOS Crisis Group, Svetlana has become a victim of her human rights activities, as he has taken an oppositional position and openly spoke out against infringement of citizens' rights. In the near future, Anokhina will not be able to return to her homeland and help Russians, Ms Miroshnikova is sure.