# Russia sentences Meduza contributor Asya Zolnikova in absentia to two and a half years in prison for involvement with an ‘undesirable’ organization

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/russia-sentences-meduza-contributor-asya-zolnikova-in-absentia-to-two-and-a-half-years-in-prison-for-involvement-with-an-undesirable-organization/
- Published: 2026-11-12T13:33:52+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T14:40:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Meduza
- Original article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/12/russia-sentences-meduza-contributor-asya-zolnikova-in-absentia-to-two-and-a-half-years-in-prison-for-involvement-with-an-undesirable-organization
- Topics: Europe, World

## Key points

- Zolnikova received a two-and-a-half-year sentence in absentia.
- Russia linked the case to her work for Meduza.
- Her mother’s home was searched in June.

## Summary

A Russian court has sentenced journalist and Meduza contributor Asya Zolnikova in absentia to two and a half years in prison for allegedly taking part in the activities of an organisation designated “undesirable” by Russian authorities. The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office said the case arose from her work for Meduza, extending legal pressure on the journalist over her reporting.

Zolnikova was fined in 2024 under a similar administrative offence. Her lawyer said that case concerned an article about how recent wars have changed the appearance of cities worldwide; prosecutors said two further articles had since appeared on Meduza’s website, without identifying them. In June, security officials searched her mother’s home.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.