Russian authorities on Tuesdaypressed criminal charges against Galina Timchenko, the founder and publisher of the exiled news website Meduza, accusing her of organizing the activities of an undesirableorganization.In a statement,the Moscow branch of Russias Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, alleged that Timchenko posted videos online that stirred public protest sentiment and involved people in the activities of an undesirable organization.Investigators said they were considering whether to place Timchenko on thecountrys wanted list.Timchenko, 64, served as editor-in-chief of the Lenta.ru news site until 2014, when she was dismissed by its Kremlin-linked owner.
Following her departure, she and former Lenta.ru staff relocated to Latvia to establish Meduza, which waslabeledaforeign agentin 2021.In 2023, Russian prosecutors branded Meduza an undesirable organization, banning it from operating inside the country and criminalizing any association with it.The Justice Ministry designated Timchenko as a foreign agent the next year, accusing herof opposing the countrys special military operation in Ukraine and spreading inaccurate information aimed at forming a negative image of the Russian armed forces.In June 2024, a Moscow court handed Timchenko a 14,000-ruble ($175) administrative fine on charges of participating in an undesirable organization.According to data collected by the exiled Mediazona news website, Russian courts have issued more than 130 fines related to involvement with media outlets designated as undesirable.
Fifty-four of these administrative cases involve Meduza directly or mention the publication by name.