In a significant legal proceeding that underscores the tightening grip on press freedom in Russia, journalist Olga Komleva has been sentenced to a 12-year prison term. The ruling was handed down by Judge Rafis Nabiyev at the Kirovsky District Court of Ufa, in the Republic of Bashkortostan, under charges of cooperating with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FKB) and distributing fabricated news regarding the Russian military’s activities.

The court convicted Komleva under Article 282.1, part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which pertains to participation in an extremist group. This follows the 2021 classification of the FKB as an "extremist" organization by the Moscow City Court. Additionally, she was found guilty under Article 207.3, part 2 for circulating "fakes" about the military.

Komleva’s trial, which has been shrouded in secrecy with both the trial and prior hearings closed to the public, comes after her arrest in March 2024. Details of the proceedings have been sparse, adding to concerns about transparency and judicial fairness in politically sensitive cases.

Previously, Komleva engaged actively as a reporter and volunteer for the Anti-Corruption Foundation's regional branch in Ufa, where she was repeatedly detained and fined for her participation in rallies supporting the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalny's own arrest in 2021, following his return to Moscow after recovering from a poisoning attempt abroad, had sparked widespread protests.

The crackdown on dissent has intensified, with a 2024 UN report highlighting the Russian authorities’ aggressive suppression of anti-war protests and the detainment of numerous human rights defenders and journalists on politically motivated charges. The report specifically named Komleva among those detained under dubious charges of extremism and terrorism.

Global organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Coalition For Women in Journalism, and the International Federation of Journalists have called for Komleva’s release, condemning the handling of her case and the broader pattern of stifling free expression in Russia.

This sentencing not only draws attention to the ongoing suppression of opposition voices but also raises significant concerns over the state of human rights and press freedom under the current Russian administration.