Jailed Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin admits partial guilt in illegal data access case

Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin has partially admitted guilt in the criminal case against him for alleged unlawful use of personal data, according to independent outlet Mediazona.

At a court hearing on the extension of Roldugin’s pre-trial detention, the presiding judge reportedly read aloud from the record of the journalist’s interrogation: 

“He partially admits guilt. He indicates that he did indeed collect data using the Telegram bot ‘Sherlock.’ He collected and stored the data via the messaging application. He did not consider this to be unlawful. Had he known, he would not have done so.”

The court granted the prosecution’s request and extended Roldugin’s detention.

Roldugin was detained on 9 April following a search of his home by Russian security forces. That same day, the Novaya Gazeta newsroom was subjected to a 13-hour search. He was later formally charged with “illegally accessing computer information” as part of a group.

The case marks the first known instance of Russian law enforcement applying personal data statutes against a media outlet in connection with its use of leaked information. Previously, the law had been used only against administrators of leak databases and security officials accused of leaking data.

On 4 May, Roldugin told journalists that the facility where he’s being held is overcrowded, and that “a great many innocent people are being held in this pre-trial detention centre.”