A journalist from Ryazan has been sent to a pre-trial detention centre over a case related to donating to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

The Zheleznodorozhny District Court in Ryazan has placed former chief editor of YA62.ru, Aleksandr Moiseyuk, in custody on charges of financing. Moiseyuk’s lawyer, Andrey Kuryatnikov, told OVD-Info.

The pre-trial restriction for Moiseyuk has been set until 16 April. He will be held in Ryazan’s Detention Centre No. 1 (SIZO-1).

According to his lawyer, the reason for the criminal prosecution was a single donation of 300 roubles (about US$3) that the journalist sent in August 2021.

Moiseyuk was detained on the morning of 17 February outside his own home when he went out to fetch water. Shortly afterwards, the regional office of the Interior Ministry announced his detention, without mentioning his name.

• Last year, when Moiseyuk was still chief editor, he was fined over news stories about calls from military recruitment offices and a fire at a local power plant. The court ruled that the outlet had knowingly published false information (Article 13.15, Part 9 of the Code of Administrative Offences).