May 6, 2021- Tatyana Volstkaya was finally acquitted of the baseless charges filed against her for spreading misinformation on May 4. The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent was facing a criminal investigation for a story she published in April 2020. The journalist reported on the shortage of ventilators for COVID-19 patients in hospitals throughout Saint Petersburg, quoting an unnamed physician. After the article was published on the RFE/RL website, Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor asked the news outlet to take it down, but they refused to comply. After a local Russian court denied the  criminal case registered against the journalist, the Russian Investigation Committee filed a request to launch an administrative investigation. Tatyana could have faced a fine or even imprisonment if she was convicted of the unfounded charges against her. CFWIJ welcomes the decision of the Gatchino City court to dismiss the criminal charges brought against the journalist.

Russia’s Investigative Committee initially sought the registration of a criminal case against the journalist. The request was denied by a local court, opting to open an administrative investigation instead. On May 4, the local court dismissed the case citing they found no criminal wrongdoing in the journalist’s article. Earlier, in August 2020, a local court in Moscow issued a fine of 300,000 rubles to REF/RL for the article written by Tatyana. The news outlet stood by the journalist and refused to pay the fine, stating the article provided valid information. 

According to Tatyana’s lawyer, Leonid Kirkun, “The court had to close the case because it 

recognized that Voltskaya practiced her right to express her opinion on an issue that was important for society. The preparation and publishing of that report were done in the context of the journalists’ professional duty”. According to RFE/RL, these fines are imposed by the state to coerce and intimidate reporters, whereas the U.S. State Department deems it intolerable. The persecution of RFE/RL staff has raised concerns that the Russian Federation might consider shutting down its operations within and outside the country. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the dismissal of the case against Tatyana Voltskaya. We also demand fair judicial treatment for other women journalists facing legal harassment at the hands of Russian investigation authorities. We emphasize the need for a secure environment for press freedom to flourish in the country. We also believe that the authorities wrongfully targeting journalists for doing their job must be held accountable for abusing their powers.