The case against the Kuban journalist has been filed in court.

A criminal case against Alexander Savelyev*, a journalist and publisher of the Protocol media project who lives abroad, has been filed with the Ust-Labinsk Court. He is accused of failing to fulfill his duties as a foreign agent. Savelyev* was previously arrested in absentia.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on September 6, 2024, two Krasnodar residents living abroad – David Kankiya*, a member of the Golos* movement council, and journalist Alexander Savelyev* – were included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice. They expressed disagreement with the Ministry of Justice's decision. The information about Alexander Savelyev*, the author of the "Protocol" project and a journalist from Krasnodar living abroad, has appeared in the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs' wanted list database. He suggested that the search may be related to prosecution under the article on "foreign agency."

Magistrate's Court Precinct No. 222 of the Ust-Labinsky District of Krasnodar Krai has registered a criminal case against Alexander Savelyev*, journalist and publisher of the "Protocol" media project, Mediazona reported.

Savelyev* is accused of evading his duties as a "foreign agent" (Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code). Savelyev* lives abroad. In December, he was placed on the wanted list, and later, as the journalist himself recounted, he was arrested in absentia.

"It was expected, unpleasant, but not fatal. I consider the law unfair; I did not comply with its requirements and do not plan to," Savelyev* commented on his criminal prosecution.

A case was opened against Alexander Savelyev* for collaborating with an "undesirable organization." The journalist claimed he had never been a member of any foreign associations. The Savelyev* case is intended to intimidate Kuban media, the journalists' union stated in August 2019. The case was dismissed, but in 2021, the court ruled to reopen it. The journalist in this case was defended by Krasnodar lawyer Alexei Avanesyan, who died in November.

News about the persecution of activists, human rights defenders, and journalists in the regions of southern Russia and the South Caucasus is published by the "Caucasian Knot" on the thematic page "Persecution of Activists".

* are listed as foreign agents.

** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.