February 22, 2021, Moscow: Journalist Elena Solovyova’s financial information was released online without her permission. The leak was accompanied by several unfounded accusations that could potentially put her life at risk. This is not only an attempt to intimidate her through online harassment, it also seriously violates her right to privacy and can result in a threat to life.

On February 4 and 10, an anonymous Telegram channel “Komi-Telega,” published Elena’s tax forms online. The tax forms were associated with the world Elena had done as a freelance journalist for several publications including, U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Russian independent news website 7×7. The released documents also included a copy of her contract with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The post went on to accuse Elena of being a “foreign agent” involved in “dark financial deeds”. 

Komi-Telega, a platform with around six thousand subscribers, often targets independent journalists and human rights activists, accusing them of being funded by “western” powers working on an anti-Russian agenda. It is thus no surprise that the platform went after Elena who was critical of the Russian government in the past. Elena covered the police brutality and detentions during the rallies in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, she investigated government failure in countering the coronavirus pandemic, and the state crackdown on climate activists.

What is worrying, however, is that nonconsensually releasing anyone’s financial information is a crime punishable by three years in prison in Russia, yet the perpetrators not only roam free but have issued the threat of “more revelations” about Elena. In an interview with Committee to Protect Journalists, Elena expressed fears that the authorities themselves might be behind the attack. According to Elena, the authorities are the only ones with access to citizens’ private financial documents, and it is very likely that her documents were purposely leaked in an effort to dissuade her from her work as a journalist.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the violation of privacy that Elena Solovyova has been targeted with. This effort to dox her, and lay accusations on her without any proof has made her vulnerable to individuals with far-right beliefs. The authorities need to reassure Elena of her safety, urgently take action, and hold the perpetrators to account, even if they sit among the most powerful.