Russian justice opens case against journalist for “false information” about the armyMoscow, 22 Mar 2022 (AFP) - Russia opened on Tuesday an investigation of a well-known journalist for publishing “false information” about the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine, in the first application of a law that provides up to 15 years in prison for this type of crime. journalist Alexandre Nevzorov is investigated for having “intentionally published false information about a deliberate bombing of the Russian army against a maternity hospital in Mariupol,” in southeastern Ukraine, specified the Russian Investigative Committee, in charge of relevant judicial matters.” These publications were accompanied by photographs that are not worthy of faith, of civilians affected by the bombing (...). The Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced that this information was false,” the statement continues. The Investigative Committee indicated that it was trying to locate Nevzorov, 63, who in 2000 was also a deputy. prison for the crime of spreading information about the Armed Forces that the Kremlin considers fallaces.Alexandre Nevzorov, a former television presenter, is currently active mainly on social networks and on YouTube, where he has a channel with 1.6 million subscribers. Each of his last four videos had more than three million views.The opening of this case takes place in a context of growing repression against the media and journalists in Russia, parallel to the military operation in Ukraine.The Russian government and the media it controls claim that this intervention seeks to “denazify” and” demilitarize” Ukraine and prevent a “genocide” against the Russian-speaking population of this country.Using the word “war” to describe this operation or to evoke actions against civilians are things theoretically liable to legal actions.Apart from that law that sanctions “lies” against the army, Russian deputies adopted on Tuesday another law, which provides for up to 15 years in prison for those who denigrate the actions of Russian agencies abroad. Numerous independent media, Russian and foreign, have been blocked in recent weeks, as well as social networks such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.BUR/SG/JS/MB