Journalist Denis Zagore fined for working for Barents Observer
After the Barents Observer in February was declared "undesirable organisation" by the Procurator General, Russian law enforcement has now started prosecuting the newspaper's journalists.
On 8 July, the Oktyabrsky Court of Murmansk fined Barents Observer journalist Denis Zagore under an administrative article for “participation in an undesirable organisation”.
The fine amounts to 5,000 roubles (€54).
Denis, who originally is from Murmansk, was informed by court staff over the phone as he since 2022 has worked in Norway. The case file is also available on the court's website.
"My choice to work here was made a long time ago. Nothing will change,” Denis Zagore says. He calls the court's decision illegal.
If the court later brings up the case against Denis one more time, it will be as a criminal case, which could result in up to five years of imprisonment for the journalist.
The Russian authorities have repeatedly since 2014 tried to hinder the work of the Barents Observer.
However, the Barents Observer team expanded its staff by including four Russian journalist in exile in 2022. In February, 2025, the newspaper won a case in the European Court of Human Rights regarding illegal blocking. The next day, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office declared the publication an “undesirable organisation”.
The Barents Observer disagrees with the decision of the Prosecutor General's Office and has filed an appeal against the agency. The newsroom argues that the decision of the Prosecutor General's Office violates the freedom of the press enshrined in the Russian constitution. The first hearing will take place on July 10.
To date, Russian authorities have included more than 220 organisations in the list of 'undesirable' entities. Almost anyone can fall under this status — from human rights and political structures to NGOs, religious associations and independent media.
