Veteran War Correspondent Faces Conviction: A Story of Press Freedom in Russia

Nadezhda Kevorkova, a veteran war correspondent, was fined by a Russian military court for allegedly 'justifying terrorism.' Arrested in 2024, she claims innocence, highlighting a post about the Taliban. Russia is moving towards recognizing Afghanistan's Taliban, despite having previously banned it.

A Russian military court fined veteran war correspondent Nadezhda Kevorkova 600,000 roubles ($6,900) after finding her guilty of 'justifying terrorism.' Kevorkova, who has been in custody during the investigation, was released following the ruling, according to a Reuters reporter present at the courtroom.

Known for her extensive work in the Middle East, the 66-year-old Kevorkova has authored numerous books about Palestine. She was arrested in Moscow in May 2024, maintaining her innocence throughout the trial. Kevorkova stated, 'I have never supported and do not support any political organisations. I do not support terrorist activity,' as quoted by Mediazona, a Russian independent outlet.

Her lawyer explained the charges stemmed from a Telegram post about the Taliban in Afghanistan. Although Russia had classified the Taliban as a terrorist organization since 2003, new legislation might remove this label. The prosecution's case also involved a reposted article about a 2005 Islamist militant raid in southern Russia. Russia is showing signs of recognizing the Taliban government after their 2021 takeover, complicating the situation for journalists like Kevorkova.

(With inputs from agencies.)