Ekaterina Barabash, a Russian journalist placed under house arrest for criticising Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine, has reportedly escaped and is now wanted by authorities amid a wider crackdown on dissent.
Ekaterina Barabash, a Russian journalist facing charges linked to her criticism of the Russian military, has reportedly escaped from house arrest and is now being sought by law enforcement authorities, according to Russian state media. Barabash, aged 63, was placed under house arrest in February after she was accused of disseminating false information about the Russian armed forces through several posts she shared on social media platforms.
The Moscow branch of Russia’s federal penitentiary service confirmed her disappearance, stating, “The accused has been declared wanted,” as reported by the Tass news agency on Monday. Authorities were notified of her absence on 13 April when her electronic monitoring bracelet showed signs of tampering or removal.
Barabash has a history of outspoken criticism against Moscow’s military actions. She had contributed to various news outlets, including Republic and Radio France Internationale’s Russian service. In March 2022, shortly after Russia commenced its military offensive in Ukraine, Barabash wrote on Facebook condemning the operation, asserting that Russia had “bombed the country” and “razed whole cities to the ground.” This stance came at a time when Moscow intensified efforts to prohibit criticism of its military operations in Ukraine, denying any targeting of civilians and introducing strict laws to penalise such commentary.
Since the conflict began in February 2022, Russian authorities have pursued thousands of legal cases against individuals accused of discrediting the army, with human rights organisations observing that these measures mark a significant crackdown on free expression reminiscent of Soviet-era repression.
Escaping house arrest in Russia carries considerable risk, but Barabash’s case is not isolated. Similar incidents include former Russian state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, known for her on-air protest against the Ukraine conflict, who managed to flee Russia in 2022 after escaping house arrest.
Barabash now remains wanted by the police, and her current whereabouts are unknown as the investigation continues.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.nampa.org/text/22614359 – This article reports that Ekaterina Barabash was arrested in February on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces, supporting the claim of her initial detention.
- https://cpj.org/2025/02/russia-puts-journalist-under-house-arrest-for-fake-news-about-ukraine-war/ – It details Ekaterina Barabash’s detention and house arrest for spreading ‘fake’ news regarding the Ukraine conflict, confirming her accusations and charges.
- https://en.iz.ru/en/1874674/2025-04-21/film-critic-barabash-wanted-after-violating-conditions-house-arrest – The article states that film critic Barabash is wanted after violating the conditions of her house arrest, supporting the claim of her disappearance and wanted status.
- https://fom.coe.int/en/alerte/detail/107642172 – This link describes Ekaterina Barabash’s case, highlighting her detention and house arrest for violating laws related to ‘fake news’ about the war in Ukraine.
- https://kyivindependent.com/63-year-old-russian-film-critic-put-under-house-arrest-in-moscow-for-fake-news-about-war-in-ukraine/ – The Kyiv Independent reports on Barabash’s house arrest following her Facebook posts about the war in Ukraine, further supporting the details of her case and charges.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is extremely current, referenced as occurring in April 2025, indicating it is fresh and not recycled.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
There are no direct quotes provided in the narrative. Thus, it was not possible to verify original sources or dates.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a reputable and well-established news organization known for its reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims in the narrative are plausible given the historical context of increased legal actions against critics of the Russian military. The incident is similar to past cases involving journalists facing repression.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is timely and originates from a highly reliable source. The lack of direct quotes did not detract from its credibility, as the events align with known patterns of suppression in Russia.
