2 Russian journos in jail on 'extremism' charges over 'work' for Navalny group

LONDON:  Two Russian journalists were arrested by their govt on "extremism" charges and ordered by courts there on Saturday to remain in custody pending investigation and trial on accusations of working for a group founded by the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin both denied the charges for which they will be detained for a minimum of two months before any trials begin. Each faces a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of six years for alleged "participation in an extremist organisation," according to Russian courts.

They are just the latest journalists arrested amid a Russian govt crackdown on dissent and independent media that intensified after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. The Russian gov t has passed laws criminalising what it deems false information about the military.

A journalist for the Russian edition of Forbes magazine, Sergei Mingazov, was detained on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military, his lawyer said Friday.

Gabov and Karelin are accused of preparing materials for a YouTube channel run by Navalny's Foundation for Fighting Corruption, which has been outlawed by Russian authorities.