The Basmanny district court in Moscow has sentenced Ruslan Leviyev, the founder of the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), and journalist Maikl Naki to 11 years in prison each in absentia. They were accused of disseminating "fake" information about the Russian Army. Both are currently abroad. The case, initiated in March last year, alleged they artificially created evidence used in a video where civilian casualties are discussed on the ninth day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin in August declared the CIT an "undesirable" organization and banned its activities in the country. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Russian Investigative Journalists Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison In Absentia
Russian journalists Maikl Naki (left) and Ruslan Leviyev (file photo)