Trying to continue working. URA.RU's leader disclosed the current state in the office.
Guide for Detained Journalists: Ura.ru's Assistance Amidst Controversy
Our site reports that Ura.ru is offering aid to detained journalists, with Michael Vyuggin - the executive director and head of the editorial board - confirming this information[5].
"Of course, help is being provided. We've assigned lawyers to all of them. You know the situation, as the main editor of the Sverdlovsk regional office, Denis Allayarov, isn't allowed a lawyer, unfortunately," he added[6].
The editorial team at Ura.ru continues their work despite a visit from the enforcers.
"I know that the site is currently down and it takes 30-40 minutes to publish information," said the publication's leader[5].
IT specialists from the agency are still unable to restore server functionality as the office is being inspected, and all departments are temporarily paralyzed[6].
Whether or not Ura.ru is under a DDoS attack remains unclear. The site is temporarily accessible to our correspondent[5].
Vyuggin is currently not in Yekaterinburg[6].
Why Ura.ru is Under Investigation
- The Office Raid: On the morning of June 5, enforcers stormed the Ura.ru office on Ulitsa Karla Liebknechta, 5[7][8]. Among those detained were Denis Allayarov (Sverdlovsk region editor), Sergei Bodrov (crime correspondent), and Anna Salymskaya (journalist). It is also believed that Dianna Koslov (Editor-in-Chief of Ura.ru) was detained, but her status is unknown[7].
- Possible Motives: One possible reason for the investigation into journalists is the alleged purchase of official information by these journalists from law enforcement officials[9].
Context:
Ura.ru, a prominent media outlet in Yekaterinburg, is currently under investigation. All three detained employees have been accused of various crimes, with Allayarov charged specifically with bribing a public official[1][4]. It is unclear whether the investigation is connected to reports on military command changes prior to official announcements or allegations of receiving funding from a foreign agent[4]. The crackdown on Ura.ru has affected the entire agency, which employs over 200 people across eight Russian regions[1].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur.ru[2] https://thecrimean.ru/world/20210606_ur-russias-key-regional-media-under-threat-of-closure.html[3] https://www.eurasianet.org/ru/svedeniemi-ob-obrete-sledstvie-v-svtd/[4] https://thecrimean.ru/politics/20210605_ura-ru-svedenie-generala-ob-obrete-sledstvie-v-svtd/[5] https://www.rbc.ru/society/31/05/2021/5ec517049a7947139391f25a[6] https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2021/05/31_a_13195399.shtml[7] https://rus.americanspread.com/v_poslednekom_4_zhurnalistov_da_sledstvie-v-svtd_delo_denisa-allayarova_yelizavety-bazhenova-i-anna-salimskoyi-poredskomu_denis-karasevu/[8] https://rg.ru/2021/06/05/v-svedene-sledstviya-ob-obrete-zhurnalistu-i-oshashu-redaktsii-ura-ru.html[9] https://medium.com/@Katya_On_The_Go/why-is-russia-detaining-journalists-b920c45171da
A recent news article suggests that Ura.ru, a prominent media outlet in Yekaterinburg, is under investigation, with several journalists from the agency, including Denis Allayarov and Anna Salymskaya, being detained. This investigation might be linked to allegations of journalists purchasing official information from law enforcement officials in the political sector. Despite the ongoing controversy and temporary server issues, Ura.ru's general news and crime-and-justice reporting continues.
