Russia keeps its military casualties a huge secret. In September 2022, the Defense Ministry reported 5,937 KIA soldiers—and that was the last time when officials disclosed anything. But even that number was a lie. Here’s how we know it
Today, Putin signed the notorious law that practically deprives the Russian queer community of the right to exist openly. The new ban equates homosexuality with pedophilia and introduces enormous fines for distributing any kind of queer content
70-year-old Oleg Orlov, Soviet era dissident, co-chair of Memorial, hostage negotiator, and one of the most prominent human right defenders in Russia, is being taken from court, which sentenced him to 2.5 years in prison for "discrediting" the Russian army. Video: Mediazona
A Russian draft, senseless and merciless. One recruit describes sheer dysfunction at his base: boots covered with moss and AKs from the 80s; a recruit without a driver’s license is now an IFV driver; trained snipers are now rocket launcher operators
EU Ambassador to Russia Roland Galharague laid flowers at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument in Moscow to the victims of political repression, in memory of Alexei Navalny Photo:
Today, Russia's Supreme Court designated the “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist organisation,” following a motion filed by the Ministry of Justice. It took judge Oleg Nefedov 4 hours to make the decision
Three days after the announcement of Alexei Navalny’s death in the Arctic prison, his family still can’t claim or even see his body. We discovered live cam footage of a midnight convoy possibly transporting Navalny’s body over the ice river crossing https://en.zona.media/article/2024/02/18/crossing…
72-year-old artist and activist Elena Osipova was detained in Saint Petersburg in a park where she came to commemorate Alexei Navalny. She drew a painting with the words "Alexei Navalny. Stop Putin's operations" Photo: Bumaga
For the first time in history, the head of another state—Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was placed on the Russian wanted list. This is just one of Mediazona's many findings in the comlete wanted database: https://en.zona.media/article/2024/02/13/wanted…
Political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is serving a 25-year sentence for treason and spreading “fakes” about the Russian army, sent flowers to the grave of Alexei Navalny. Photo: Mediazona
Today Moscow politician Ilya Yashin was sent to jail for two months pending investigation of spreading “fake information” about the murders in Bucha. He faces up to 10 years in prison. The court hearing was held behind closed doors, no journalists were allowed inside
Novaya Gazeta reporter Elena Milashina has been diagnosed with multiple fractures of her wrists (up to 14), a traumatic brain injury and multiple contusions after yesterday’s assault in Chechnya. She underwent examination in a Moscow clinic. The world needs to see these images:
Hi! At Mediazona, we’ve been covering repression and injustice of the almighty state for over 8 years. War reshaped reality dramatically, so now we try to bring our best reporting to international audience — in English. Meet our new website! https://en.zona.media (1/9)
The Map of Fire Since the start of the war against Ukraine, 54 army recruitment centers and government offices have been set on fire in Russia. 17 incidents have taken place in the last five days following Putin's announcement of mobilization
Mediazona condemns another inhumane decision of the Russian authorities and encourages readers to share information about human rights violations in our country. This thread was written by a Russian trans person. Thank you for your attention
State pressure on the queer community began in Russia a long time ago, but this law made the already vulnerable position of queer people even worse. The ban will affect a huge number of people—from activists, human rights workers, and content creators to ordinary citizens
Press conference of freed Russian political prisoners begins in Bonn, Germany, with Ilya Yashin, Andrei Pivovarov, and Vladimir Kara-Murza speaking. Kara-Murza reveals he and Yashin refused to write pardon requests. They had to enter Germany on internal Russian passports
from his maximum security colony in Russia's Far North. Navalny appeared in court today, via video. He is suing the prison administration, protesting against disciplinary penalties and harsh conditions. Photo: Alexandra Astakhova / Mediazona
“I’m glad to know you. And proud of it.” A surreal conversation between two political prisoners. Today, Alexei Navalny appeared via video link from his prison in the trial against Lilia Chanysheva, his associate who faces up to 18 years in prison. Here’s their brief chat:
Alexei Navalny was buried two days ago. People are coming in droves to pay their respects to the Borisovskoye cemetery in Moscow Video: Mediazona reader
Borisovskoye cemetery where Alexei Navalny is buried closed at 5pm, but people who came to bid farewell didn’t leave, demanded to be let in, and threw flowers over the fence. Video: Mediazona
People are chanting "Freedom for political prisoners," as they they make their way from the church in Maryino, where Alexei Navalny's funeral service was held, to the Borisovskoye cemetery Video: Mediazona