WASHINGTON – RFE/RL contributor Mykola Semena was formally presented an indictment by Russian authorities on charges of “separatism” on Jan. 20, in a case that has come to symbolize the suppression of media freedom on the Russia-annexed Crimea.
The indictment, citing Article 280.1 of Russia’s criminal code, states that an article written by Semena in September, 2015 in which he opposed Russia’s occupation of Crimea contained “calls to action aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.”
