Siberian Muckraker Who Investigated Oil Theft Jailed for Blackmail, Pornography May 14, 2021 Eduard Shmonin links his charges to his investigation alleging industrial-scale oil theft with FSB and police involvement. svoboda.org
A Siberian muckraking journalist who investigated oil-theft schemes has been sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of blackmail and distributing pornography, authorities said Friday.
Eduard Shmonin, 50, was arrested in 2017 after he released an investigative documentary alleging industrial-scale oil theft with Federal Security Service (FSB) and police involvement in the Khanty-Mansiisk autonomous district. Authorities accused him of releasing a sex tape involving one of the investigation’s subjects after failing to extort money out of them.
Russian journalist Eduard Shmonin believes he was targeted by investigators for his exposé on massive oil theft in western Siberia. He's now facing up to 11 years in prison in a verdict expected next week.