A Moscow court on November 27 sentenced journalist Aleksandra Bayazitova, a former reporter of Izvestiya and Kommersant newspapers, and media manager Olga Arkharova to five years and 4 1/2 years in prison, respectively, on a charge of extortion. The court held that the two had attempted to extort 1.2 million rubles ($13,400) from Aleksandr Ushakov, the vice president of state-owned Promsvyaz Bank, in exchange for not publishing "negative information" about the bank on Bayazitova's YouTube channel. Bayazitova pleaded not guilty while Arkharova pleaded guilty. The trial was held behind closed doors. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
Moscow Court Hands Prison Terms To Two Journalists On Extortion Charge
Aleksandra Bayazitova and Olga Arkharova stand in a defendants' cage while attending a court hearing in Moscow.