Russia: CFWIJ condemns police raid and interrogation against journalist Maria Zholobova

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June 30, 2021, Moscow – Moscow police raided the apartments of three journalists, including reporter Maria Zholobova of the independent news organization Proekt, and interrogated them. Police confiscated phones, computers, flash drives and SIM cards from Maria. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) denounces state intimidation against journalists. We demand Russian authorities to end these intimidating policies against journalists and return their equipment.

Police raided the apartment of journalist Maria Zholobova on the morning of 29 June. The equipment of the journalist was also seized. 

According to Proekt, the police raided journalist’s houses for the publication of an investigation into corruption allegations about Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and his relatives. The raids took place shortly after Proekt announced the investigation, the investigative outlet said in a statement. However, reportedly the police raids were carried out as part of a defamation trial against a 2017 documentary that Maria contributed, in which she alleged links between a businessman and organized crime. 

During the raid, Proekt editor-in-chief did not allow Roman Badanin's lawyer, Anna Bogatyryova. Police officers only allowed the lawyer to meet with her client after calling them. After the searches, the police interrogated all three journalists. Badanin and his lawyer signed a confidentiality agreement later for not revealing any details about the raids and interrogation. According to CPJ, police officers previously questioned Maria about the sources of her 2017 documentary, and the journalist refused to clarify. Also, access to Proekt's website was briefly cut off during the raid.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands Russian law enforcement authorities to end these attacks against the journalist. Police should return Maria's camera equipment and refrain from targeting her any further.