Journalist Andrey Loshak has been arrested in absentia on charges of “justifying terrorism”

The Basmanny District Court in Moscow has arrested journalist and documentary filmmaker Andrey Loshak in absentia on charges of publicly justifying terrorism online (part 2, article 205.2 of the Criminal Code). The case card in the court’s database was highlighted by the news outlet “Ostorozhno, novosti” (“Caution, News”). The specific grounds for the criminal case are still unknown.

In February 2023, the Ministry of Justice added Loshak to the register of “foreign agents.” The ministry claimed that the journalist spoke out against the war in Ukraine, spread “negative information” about decisions made by the Russian authorities, and interacted with foreign organisations.

An arrest in absentia means that Loshak will be detained straight away at the airport and taken to a detention centre if he comes to Russia. This measure also poses risks when travelling through or transiting in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS): there, a person may be detained and extradited to Russia. OVD-Info lawyers explained this in a joint guide with Meduza.