Former Russia-1 television host Farida Kurbangaleyeva has received an eight-year prison sentence in absentia, according to Mediazona's reporting.
The court found the journalist guilty of spreading military-related "false information" and "endorsing terrorism." Another defendant in the case—Alexei Baranovsky, a nationalist fighting with Ukraine's "Freedom of Russia" legion—was similarly sentenced in absentia to six years, matching the prosecution's requested terms.
Authorities allege Kurbangaleyeva exploited her former prominence as a federal news anchor by publishing an interview with Baranovsky that praised the legion's actions as "heroic and justified." Her Telegram posts were also deemed to contain false claims about Russia's military. Kurbangaleyeva hosted the Vesti program until 2014 before departing Russia-1 following Crimea's annexation.
Between 2018 and 2021, she anchored news programs for "Real Time" before focusing on independent projects. Russian authorities have since designated her a "foreign agent," placed her on their extremist watchlist, and issued an in-absentia arrest warrant.
Earlier this year, Russia's Prosecutor General unsuccessfully sought her extradition from the Czech Republic—marking what appears to be the first known EU extradition request involving charges of "terrorism justification" and military "disinformation."