Russian Authorities Conduct Search at Home of Mother of Independent Media Founder Amid Censorship Allegations

On Friday, Russian law enforcement officials conducted a search at the residence of the mother of Anastasia Chumakova, the U.S.-based founder and editor-in-chief of the independent news organization Astra, located in Ulyanovsk.

This search was part of an investigation into allegations against Chumakova for purportedly disseminating “false information” regarding the Russian military. Violating wartime censorship regulations can lead to penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

Astra reported that early in the morning, agents from the FSB, police, and investigators arrived at the home of Chumakova’s 61-year-old mother, where they examined her personal communications and confiscated electronic devices.

Authorities reportedly questioned Chumakova’s mother as a witness in their investigation.

It is important to note that Chumakova has not resided or been registered at her mother’s apartment for over ten years.

Previously, Chumakova served as a correspondent for the Russian channel RTVI in New York until her dismissal in December 2021.

She established Astra shortly after the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, motivated by her desire to counteract wartime censorship and provide accurate coverage of the conflict.

In October, Russia’s Justice Ministry classified Astra as a “foreign agent,” accusing it of disseminating “inaccurate information” about government policies to create a “negative image” of the Russian military.

In March, a court in Ulyanovsk imposed a fine of 35,000 rubles (approximately $433) on Chumakova for failing to register as the head of a media outlet designated as a “foreign agent.”

Chumakova has stated that she relocated to an undisclosed “tropical state” a month after founding Astra, where she lived in a tent due to financial constraints preventing her from affording permanent housing at that time.

Describing her life there in a December 2023 interview, Chumakova said: “Life was basic: I used rainwater for showers, washing dishes, and other necessities. Drinking water was sourced from a well. Cooking and heating water for showers involved a gas cylinder, while solar panels were utilized for electricity.”