A journalist from the Dozhd TV channel, who has been charged with spreading military “fake news,” has been declared wanted by the authorities.

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has put Valeria Ratnikova, a presenter at the Dozhd TV channel, on the wanted list, reports Mediazona, which found her name in the wanted persons database.

In July, the Investigative Committee announced that a criminal case had been opened against Ratnikova for allegedly spreading “fake news” about the Russian army (section “d” part 2 article 207.3 of the Criminal Code), as well as for alleged failure to comply with “foreign agent” requirements (part 2 article 330.1 of the Criminal Code). According to investigators, she published materials containing “false information about actions of the Russian armed forces against the civilian population of Ukraine.”

In December 2023, she was included on the “foreign agents” list. After that, she was repeatedly fined in administrative cases over failure to comply with “foreign agent” obligations (article 19.34 Administrative Code).

Like many other Dozhd journalists, Ratnikova left Russia after the invasion of Ukraine began. The TV channel suspended its broadcasts in Russia in the first days of the war because it was impossible to protect journalists and guests under the criminal law on so-called “military fakes” introduced in March 2022. After that, part of the team left the country and the channel continued operating from abroad.

18:58 The Ministry of Internal Affairs has also put another Dozhd presenter, Ekaterina Kotrikadze, on the wanted list, Mediazona noted. She faces the same criminal charges as Ratnikova.