Investigative journalist and commentator Oleg Roldugin of the independent ‘Novaya Gazeta’ was placed in pre-trial detention in Russia on Friday, following his arrest.
Arrest and Charges
Oleg Roldugin, a commentator and investigative journalist for the independent Russian newspaper ‘Novaya Gazeta,’ was placed in pre-trial detention on Friday, awaiting a court hearing. He was initially detained on Thursday on suspicion of violating personal data regulations, according to Reuters.
Raids on ‘Novaya Gazeta’
A 13-hour search was conducted at the ‘Novaya Gazeta’ editorial office in Moscow on Thursday. Media reports suggest the searches may be linked to the case of Roldugin, who is suspected of illegally using and transmitting personal data.
Detention and Lack of Legal Access
‘NG’ reported that a search was also conducted at Roldugin’s apartment on Thursday morning, after which he was taken for questioning. He was reportedly denied access to a lawyer during the process.
Criminal Case Initiated
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that a criminal case was initiated on March 10th under an article of the criminal code concerning “illegal use, transmission, collection, and storage of computer information containing personal data.”
Allegations of Data Misuse
The Ministry of Internal Affairs maintains that investigators have determined that personal data resources were used in the preparation of certain articles and “materials with negative content towards citizens of Russia.” These resources were accessed to obtain data, which was then used in publications.
‘Novaya Gazeta’s’ History
‘Novaya Gazeta’ was founded in the early 1990s. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was one of the last independent media outlets in Russia. In 2022, authorities forced the suspension of the newspaper’s print edition, and in February 2023, it ultimately lost its official media license.
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