Donald Trump’s authoritarian mentor and political guide, Vladimir Putin,
jailed four Russian citizens
On April 15, due to fabricated accusations of extremism, which in America, we refer to as
journalism
.
At minimum, that’s what we’d refer to it as … for the time being.
Antonina Favorskaya, Kostantin Gabov, Sergey Karelin, and Artyom Kriger were convicted for their participation in an organization that was deemed extremist.
connections to Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny
who passed away under questionable conditions last year while incarcerated in a Russian prison.
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Essentially, the four Russian journalists were imprisoned for doing what American journalists are supposed to do — speak truth to power — something that too many American journalists aren’t doing these days.
There’s no First Amendment to hold Putin in line.
Facing prison, Sergey Karelin wrote, “Remorse is considered to be a mitigating circumstance. It’s the criminals who need to have remorse for what they did. But I am in prison for my work, for the honest and impartial attitude to journalism, FOR THE LOVE for my family and country.”
Imagine that.
Exhibiting bravery and determination without the
First Amendment
protection American journalists have that prohibits the government from “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press … .”
At least it does … for now.
Trump’s close Russian ally is precisely who the late U.S. Senator John McCain described him as, “
an assassin and a criminal
.”
If you question McCain’s understanding of the Russian leader, think about how in 2008, during a presidential debate against Barack Obama, McCain presciently stated, “As I mentioned previously,
watch Ukraine
Right now, Ukraine is in the crosshairs of Vladimir Putin.”
Trump is already beginning actions to suppress freedom of expression.
If you’re unsure whether Trump aims to suppress free speech similar to how Putin does, look at what actions Trump has already taken.
He issued an executive directive instructing the attorney general and the Homeland Security secretary to
investigate Chris Krebs
, a former cyber security official who oversaw the 2020 election and reported it to be secure (which Trump didn’t like), and Miles Taylor, chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s first term, who anonymously wrote an opinion article for The New York Times in 2018 (which Trump also didn’t like).
To put it differently, Trump seeks to criminalize dissenting expressions he opposes, much like what occurs in Putin’s Russia.
While in detention Artyom Kriger wrote, “In our country, being an independent,
honest, professional journalist
And collaborating with independent media presents substantial challenges, since there’s a danger of facing imprisonment, getting killed, or encountering severe financial issues.”
Trump has said he’d lock up journalists
Could that be a situation where the leader calls the media ”
an adversary of the masses
,” as Trump does?
Could that be a place where the leader consistently makes insulting remarks?
assaults and intimidates the press
, as Trump does?
Could that possibly be a location where the leader goes?
prohibits specific journalists from entering the Oval Office
, removes journalists from their workstations at the Pentagon and initiates inquiries into media organizations he disapproves of, similar to what Trump has done?
Could such a leader also imprison journalists?
Trump has said he’d lock up journalists who don’t identify confidential sources on stories he’s concerned about. He’s even joked about how the
possibility of being raped in prison
might make them talk.
He stated, “Once this individual understands they are about to become the bride of another inmate soon, they might express, ‘I would really appreciate sharing who that person was with you.'”
In the end, it comes down to confronting authority with honesty.
The individuals imprisoned by Putin include several Russians who
links to Western media organizations
includingReutersandtheAssociatedPress.
Artyom Kriger stated that he is incarcerated “solely due to my steadfast commitment to fulfilling my professional responsibilities as a journalist who is unwaveringly honest, uncorrupted, and impartial.”
In different terms, when confronting authority with honesty.
It’s simple.
The more Trump acts like a Russian dictator, the more Americans in the media need to act like Russian journalists.
Reach Montini at
ed.montini@WARNEWS
.
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The article initially appeared in the Arizona Republic.
Imprisoned Russian reporters are courageous figures who highlight how meek American journalism can seem | Opinion
