Meanwhile, one of the leaders of the protests and a well-known independent Russian journalist, Vladimir Barabash, has fled house arrest. Now, he’s the subject of a national manhunt. As a result, the Moscow branch of Russia’s federal penitentiary service declared him wanted. This was first announced on Monday by state-owned news agency Tass. Barabash has published in the Republic, the Russian service of OpenDemocracy, and other media. His open condemnation of the Russian military and the unprovoked war on Ukraine justified ruthless legal retribution against him.
Barabash’s legal woes began in February 2023. His authorities arrested him on criminal charges of providing disinformation about the armed forces of the Russian Federation. After his arrest, he remained on house arrest. It was in this period that he had the courage to speak out against the military invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, he dropped a bombshell with a provocative Facebook post. He alleged that Russia had “flattened the country” and “destroyed entire cities,” which state prosecutors interpreted as promoting untrue narratives about the military.
On April 13, police were notified that Barabash was missing. This alert was triggered by an electronic monitoring system created to keep tabs on people held under house arrest. His escape is an important and integral step in this larger clampdown on opposition and dissenting voices happening in Russia right now. Since the full-scale war against Ukraine started with a Russian attack in February 2022, the authorities have opened at least 4,000 legal prosecutions. These prosecutions aim at those who are charged with undermining the armed forces. Barabash’s case underscores the dangerous precedent being set for journalists who dare to question the state’s narrative.
Former state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova attracted global headlines in a closely related case. She fled Russia in 2022 after daringly escaping her own home detention. Ovsyannikova previously gained notoriety when she spectacularly protested the invasion of Ukraine on live Russian television. In retaliation, she was charged with slander and was compelled to live in exile. Both journalists are of a deepening cohort who have been persecuted. These individuals are now being targeted for publicly and boldly exercising their right to free speech within Russia.
Barabash’s future is now unclear as he is once again wanted by police. If he does get caught, the risks are very high. The four federal charges against him could see the 67-year-old retired schoolteacher imprisoned for up to a decade. The world is watching as events develop on the ground. They continue to be profoundly alarmed by the state of freedom of expression and human rights in Russia today.