Prosecutors had accused the Russian journalist of creating an "extremist" group aimed at overthrowing authorities. But the group had actually called for a referendum for increased transparency from serving officials.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Geodakyan
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A Russian court on Thursday sentenced an investigative journalist to three and a half years in prison after convicting him on extremism charges.
Prosecutors said 29-year-old Alexander Sokolov created an "extremist organization" aimed at overthrowing Russian authorities. The group was called "For Responsible Government" and called for a referendum to make politicians more accountable.
"The idea of holding a referendum against the present-day authorities was recognized to be an extremist one. But we have not finished yet, we will keep fighting," Sokolov said from a metal cage in the courtroom.
Sokolov worked for RBK news agency when police arrested him in June 2015. The agency has since been sold to the owner of a pro-Kremlin newspaper.
'Disgraceful'
The trial drew criticism from several media rights agencies including the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Memorial in Russia.
"This sentence is disgraceful," said Johann Bihr, who heads RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.
"By persisting with this prosecution despite two years of pre-trial detention, vacillating allegations, no hard evidence and an Orwellian charge, the judicial authorities have just reinforced the impression that Alexander Sokolov is being persecuted because his journalist activities were a source of irritation."
Before his arrest, Sokolov researched the alleged embezzlement of 93 billion rubles (1.32 billion euros, $1.55 billion) from public coffers during the construction of a new space port. The space center was considered a brainchild of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia ranked 148 out of 180 countries on RSF's 2017 Press Freedom Index. "The oppressive climate at the national level encourages powerful provincial officials far from Moscow to crack down even harder on their media critics," RSF said in its 2017 global report on press freedom.
The different faces of Vladimir Putin
Forbes magazine ranked Russian President Vladimir Putin as the most powerful person of 2016 - followed by US President-elect Donald Trump. This picture gallery shows different aspects of Putin's personality.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
From KGB to Kremlin
Putin joined the KGB, the former Soviet Union's security agency, in 1975. In the 1980s he undertook his first foreign posting as a KGB agent to Dresden, Germany. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Putin returned to Russia and entered Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin. When Yeltsin announced that he wanted Putin as his successor, the way was paved for him to become prime minister.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M.Klimentyev
First presidency
On his appointment, Putin was virtually unknown to the general public. This changed when in August 1999 armed men from Chechnya invaded the neighboring Russian territory of Dagestan. President Yeltsin appointed ex-KGB officer Putin to bring Chechnya back under the central government's control. On New Year's Eve, Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned and named Putin as acting president.
Image: picture alliance/AP Images
Tough guy in the media
During an exhibition hockey game in Sochi, Putin’s team won 18-6, with the president scoring eight goals.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/A. Nikolsky
Limited freedom of speech
A protester wears a tape over his mouth reading "Putin" during an opposition rally. In 2013 the Kremlin announced that the state-owned news agency, RIA Novosti, was to be restructured and placed under the control of a pro-Kremlin figure known for his extreme anti-Western views. Reporters without Borders ranked Russia as 148 in its list of 178 countries in terms of press freedom.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/V.Maximov
Putin's Image: A man of action
Putin's image as a man of action, boosted by his having been a KGB spy, has long been part of his appeal in Russia. It is carefully maintained by means of photos where he is seen bare-chested on horseback, or tossing opponents onto a judo mat. In Russia, Putin has earned praise for restoring stability but has also been accused of authoritarianism.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Nikoskyi
Stifling democracy
When President Putin's United Russia party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in 2007, critics described the vote as neither free nor democratic. Dozens were detained as riot police broke up protests by demonstrators accusing President Putin of stifling democracy. In this rally the poster reads: "Thank you, no!"
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y.Kadobnov
Orchestrated events
In Sevastopol, Crimea, Putin looks through the window of a research bathyscaphe in the waters of the Black Sea. This dive in a mini-submarine was only one of his adventurous stunts; he has also been seen tranquilizing wild tigers and flying with endangered cranes. It was also aimed at cementing his image as an adventurer, and demonstrating his control of the annexed territory of Crimea.
