Russia arrests investigative journalist: ‘Critical media has begun to shut down’

An army of agents drove Dobroshotov out of his house. The journalist describes on Twitter the knocking on the door and jokes that he can hire a lawyer.

Dobroshotov is the editor-in-chief of the online platform The Insider. He risks his life and exposes scandal after scandal. Reporter Eva Hartog from Moscow: “He bites the biggest taboo often related to the security services and is researching in depth.”

Navalny poisoning

Dobroshotov has been investigating the MH17 disaster for more than six years. An attack according to international criminal investigations was carried out with a Buk missile from Russia. Dobrokhotov, among other things, revealed the names of the people who arranged and carried out the transfer of that Buk missile from Russia to eastern Ukraine.

The investigative journalist also found that the Russians were behind the 2018 poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England, and Putin’s arch-rival Alexei Navalny.

Russia, as usual, denies everything. But it doesn’t stop there now. There is a clear trend in Russia. Persons and organizations that have an important relationship with the Kremlin are closed. This has been the case for politicians and activists for some time now. And now also increasingly for critical journalists,” says Hartog.

Dutch blogger

Russia said Dobroshotov was officially arrested for defamation. In this case, it is about Dutch blogger Max van der Werf. He writes for years that Russia had nothing to do with the downing of Flight MH17. The Dutchman puts aside all evidence from the international investigation into the disaster.

Dobrochutov tweeted late last year that van der Werf was hired by the GRU. According to Hartog, Russia now has a reason to get rid of the critical journalist Dobrochotov: “This case of defamation is clearly used as a reason to restrain him and to the insider. Raids and searches do not fit the charge of defamation. “

After half a day of interrogation, Dobroshotov returned home. He informed the international media that he was arrested not for exposing a Russian Muharram, but for defamation by the Dutch blogger.

However, this case is unpleasant, says the investigative journalist. His passport and laptop computers were confiscated. Dobroshotov: “These things have absolutely nothing to do with the defamation case. What does a passport have to do with a tweet about a Dutch blogger?”

Incrimination guide

Eva Hartog: “This suggests that the authorities are looking for incriminating materials to further counter Dobroshotov. There are many reasons why the Russian authorities would rather lose Dobroshotov and other critical journalists than get rich. The worrying thing is that they are now fulfilling this ambition.”