Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko has been sentenced to an additional 22 months in prison, marking the third conviction against the independent reporter since her arrest in 2022. The decision, issued by a court in Russia’s Altai Krai region, further extends the imprisonment of one of the earliest journalists prosecuted for reporting critically on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ponomarenko, a correspondent for the independent outlet RusNews, was found guilty of allegedly using violence against prison staff. The new sentence follows a six-year prison term imposed in 2023 for spreading what authorities described as “false information” about the Russian military, as well as a separate conviction in 2025 on similar accusations involving prison personnel.
The latest ruling means the journalist will remain behind bars for at least another two years and three months. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russian authorities have increasingly relied on legislation criminalizing independent reporting and criticism of military operations, leading to the detention and prosecution of numerous journalists, activists, and civil society figures.
During court proceedings, Ponomarenko rejected the accusations, stating that the case originated from an encounter with a prison employee whom she asked not to touch her. According to her testimony, the confrontation escalated when she attempted to move away, after which she alleges prison staff used force against her.
The journalist has also described deteriorating detention conditions, including confinement in a rat-infested cell, constant noise, and poor living conditions that she says have negatively affected her physical and mental health. In previous hearings, Ponomarenko revealed that she had struggled with severe psychological distress and had attempted suicide multiple times while in custody. Her lawyer has linked these incidents to alleged mistreatment and repeated disciplinary measures imposed by prison authorities.
At Free Press Alliance, we strongly condemn the continued persecution of Maria Ponomarenko and the use of repeated criminal prosecutions to silence independent journalism.