Russian journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova was taken into custody on May 6 after her home was searched. She is accused of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – “Justification of terrorism”. According to Izvestia, she had published posts on her Telegram channel that justified the attacks by Shamil Basayev’s group on Nalchik in 2005, as well as the activities of the Taliban Movement. It is worth noting that despite an official ban, Taliban delegations visited Moscow more than once.
Kevorkova is also known for her work on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. She is the author of Palestine: Resistance and If I Forget You, Jerusalem. In fact, several years ago she was detained by Israeli soldiers while trying to break the blockade of Gaza Strip. Her ex-husband Maxim Shevchenko wrote on his Telegram channel that he believed her arrest was a result of her open pro-Palestinian stance, but he also wondered if it was a form of revenge from certain influential forces in Russia.
It is not entirely clear what led to Kevorkova’s arrest or why she was specifically targeted for this investigation. However, it is clear that her work has been controversial and may have put her at odds with certain individuals or groups in Russia. As such, it will be important to closely monitor her case and ensure that due process is followed throughout the investigation.
