The Russian courts have seized the properties of journalists Michael Nacke, Ruslan Leviev and Andrei Soldatov, all three accused of “spreading fake news about the Russian army,” says Pavel Chikov of Agora, a human rights organisation.
Chikov first reported property seizure yesterday without mentioning any names. The courts have seized the journalists’ real estate, vehicles, and froze their bank accounts.
Chikov noted that the Russian law allows courts to seize assets of citizens if they are unable to pay out a fine. The “fake news” law introduces fines of 3 to 5 million rubles (€45,300 to €76,400).
Soldatov, the chief editor at Agentura.ru, reported his bank accounts frozen. All three were put on the wanted list by the Russian Interior Ministry earlier.
