Roman Anin lost his Russian citizenship due to an article about 'fakes'
The founder of the Russian media 'Important Stories', Roman Anin, lost his Russian citizenship. The decision was made based on a absentia conviction of the journalist for disseminating 'fakes' about the Russian army. This was reported by 'Gromadske' referencing Russian media.
According to Russian law enforcement, the media worker was stripped of his Russian passport under Article 22 of the 'On Citizenship of the Russian Federation' law, which provides for the deprivation of citizenship due to 'committing a crime'.
The long road to losing citizenship
It is worth noting that Anin's Russian citizenship is acquired. A citizen of Moldova received a Russian passport in 2006. When exactly the citizenship was annulled is unknown.
Criminal case for 'fakes' about the Russian army
Roman Anin was convicted in absentia in March of this year to 8.5 years in a penal colony in a case regarding 'fakes'. The grounds for the criminal case were three video clips by media released in 2022.
In them, journalists reported on an occupier who fought against Ukraine and admitted to looting and killing a civilian in the Kyiv region. The Russian invader confirmed that orders to shoot civilians were given by the Russian command repeatedly.
Law on deprivation of citizenship for 'fakes' and other crimes
Since the end of October 2023, there has been a law in Russia allowing a person to be deprived of acquired citizenship for military 'fakes', 'discrediting the army', calls for extremist activities, terrorism propaganda, and some other reasons.
Amendments in the Russian State Duma
It is noteworthy that the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted amendments prohibiting the deprivation of citizenship from residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine, which Moscow has 'included' in its constitution. At the same time, these amendments significantly expand the list of crimes for which one can lose acquired Russian citizenship.
Forecast of Russian media about a prolonged war in Ukraine
It is worth noting that Russian state media are preparing the public for a prolonged war in Ukraine, promising that Russia will achieve its goal of destroying Ukrainian statehood within ten years.
Roman Anin lost his Russian citizenship for disseminating 'fakes' about the Russian army, which led to his conviction and loss of citizenship under the legislation of the Russian Federation. This is part of the context of escalating the situation around journalism and the information empire that the Kremlin aims to create, keeping in mind the war in Ukraine and strengthening its position on the international stage.