Russia Files Media Cases Against Kommersant, SIM Media Holding and Several Editors

June 12, 2026 Ruwiki Russian authorities have filed administrative cases against several media outlets and editors under laws regulating mass media content, according to court records reviewed by exiled news outlet Mediazona. The cases were submitted to Moscow's Judicial District No. 374 in the Tagansky district and involve alleged violations of Article 13.15 of Russia's administrative code, which covers abuses of media freedom. Among the organizations facing charges are the legal entity of newspaper Kommersant, which was accused of disseminating what authorities describe as "false socially significant information," and media holding SIM, the former Rambler Group, which owns sports website Championat and culture publication Afisha Daily. SIM was accused of distributing information about an organization designated as "extremist" by Russian authorities. The cases come as Russia continues to tighten restrictions on independent journalism and media coverage more than four years after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a campaign that has been accompanied by sweeping censorship laws, criminal prosecutions and the closure or exile of many independent news organizations. Court records also list several journalists and editors as defendants, including RusNews editor-in-chief Sergei Ainbinder, former Vedomosti journalist Yelizaveta Sergina, who has been linked by Russian media to the Telegram channel "Merciless PR Specialist," Atomnaya Energiya 2.0 editor-in-chief Pavel Yakovlev, Moskovskiye Novosti editor-in-chief Alexander Berezkin and Arsenal Otechestva military magazine editor-in-chief Dmitry Drozdenko. The specific allegations against the individuals were not disclosed in the court database. The first hearings are scheduled for June 29 and July 1. The new cases come as Russia ranks near the bottom of global press freedom assessments. In its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Russia 172nd out of 180 countries and territories, its lowest-ever position in the survey. Only Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, North Korea and Eritrea ranked lower. Russia's standing in the index has fallen sharply since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, following the introduction of wartime censorship laws, including legislation criminalizing the spread of information deemed false by authorities about the Russian military. Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: Court case , Journalists , Press freedom Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Journalists Demand End to Crackdown on Media The outcry comes after Russia slapped several media outlets and individual journalists with the "foreign agent" label. Russia Seeks 6 Years Jail for Journalist in 'Terror Case' Svetlana Prokopyeva's case has drawn outrage from supporters and rights groups. What Detained Reporter Ivan Golunov Has Meant for Russian Journalism “We only know all of this because of Vanya.” opinion Evgeniy Roizman Russia’s Interior Ministry Has Dug Itself Into a Deep Hole Whoever planted the drugs in Golunov’s arrest should face the consequences.