In Chita, the court sentenced journalist Nika Novak to 4 years in a general regime penal colony for the case of «collaborating with a foreign organization on a confidential basis», reported «Sibir.Realii»*.
Novak, who worked at the publication ChitaMedia and Zab.ru, was detained in 2023 in Moscow, but in the fall of 2024, she was transferred to Transbaikalia, where the trial took place. Novak's case is classified, and the details of the process are not disclosed.
As noted by «Mediazona»**, after 2014, Novak traveled to the self-proclaimed LPR and DPR, supported separatists on social networks, and condemned the «Euromaidan» in Kyiv. Since 2021, she led the «Gifted» center in Chita, where musical and poetic evenings were held. Since 2022, she collaborated as a freelance correspondent with «Radio Liberty».
Lawyer Evgeny Smirnov told the «Agency»** that Novak became the first journalist to be sent to a penal colony under Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. In total, more than 50 cases have been initiated in Russia under this article, and the number of sentences is approaching 40.
In March 2022, Novak wrote that she was «not ashamed of Russia», but «saddened that the peaceful people of Ukraine fall asleep and wake up to the sound of shells».
Later, she posted on Facebook: «Someday a miracle will happen (maybe) and the Transbaikalian authorities will pay attention to Transbaikalia, stopping doing absurd things like participating in an action with the letter Z».
«Memorial»** recognized Nika Novak as a political prisoner.
* Recognized in Russia as «foreign agents» and «undesirable» organizations.
** Recognized in Russia as «foreign agents».
Photo: VK Nika Novak