Another Russian journalist has been detained in Russia for “extremism” on charges of filming a video for the team of late dissident Alexei Navalny, the international news agency Associated Press reported on Sunday.
Sergei Karelin, who worked for the AP, became the second journalist arrested on such charges after Konstantin Gabov, who worked occasionally for the Reuters news agency, was detained on Saturday.
“The Associated Press is very concerned about the detention of Russian video journalist Sergei Karelin,” AFP reported. "We are seeking additional information."
Gabov, who, according to media reports, also worked for the Russian TV channels Moscow 24 and Mir, as well as the Belarusian news agency Belsat, will remain in pre-trial detention until at least June 27, the court’s press service reported on Telegram.
Karelin and Gabov are accused of helping prepare videos for publication on the YouTube channel NavalnyLIVE, a platform used by Navalny's team, the court said.
Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died under unclear circumstances in an Arctic prison in February.
His movement is designated as “extremist,” which exposes its employees and supporters to prosecution.
Most of Navalny's allies are in exile or serving long prison sentences.
Russian authorities have stepped up pressure on independent and foreign media in recent months in a concerted effort to silence dissident voices following the offensive in Ukraine.
In March, photographer Antonina Kravtsova was also detained on "extremism" charges after frequently covering Navalny's trials for SOTAvision, one of the few media organizations documenting political repression in Russia and considered a "foreign agent" by authorities.
Sergei Mingazov, a Russian journalist who works for the Russian version of Forbes, was detained on Friday and charged with spreading “false information” about military abuses in Ukraine.
Other jailed journalists include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovitch, who faces espionage charges that he and U.S. authorities deny.
Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, an employee of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been behind bars since October for failing to register as a “foreign agent” as required by authorities.