Russian journalist accused of ‘repeatedly discrediting the Russian army’

A 68-year old resident of Russia’s Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is accused of “repeatedly discrediting the Russian army”, the local police says. He will face criminal prosecution.

The man was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention centre. He was fined 30,000 rubles (€450) for discrediting the Russian army twice before.

“The suspect continued his illegal actions and published materials on social media which contained information discrediting the Russian armed forces,” says the police.

The man in question is Vladimir Yefimov, say Argumenty i Fakty and Kam24. He managed TVK, the first private-owned television company in the region in the 1990s, he is now the head of the local Yabloko party branch, says Mediazona.

A search was conducted in Yefimov’s apartment, the police confiscated his computers, mobile phones, as well as “other items that may serve as evidence”, police say, adding that “the suspect also handed in two gas pistols and five bullets which he possessed unlawfully.”