RIA Novosti on Wednesday expressed its strong...
The agency said in a statement that it had assigned Andrei Stenin to cover a protest in front of the presidential administration building on December 12, 2009, but he was detained as a protester while carrying out his professional duties.
The Tverskoy district court ordered the journalist to pay a 500-ruble (about $17) fine. It agreed with the prosecution"s contention that Stenin was among the protesters who were standing in a line holding sheets of paper with letters that together spelled out the phrase "Respect the Constitution!"
Stenin denied the charges. He said he was performing his professional duties but not taking part in the demonstration when he was detained.
RIA Novosti supported its photographer, confirming that he had been assigned to cover the protest.
The state news agency said in a statement that the court"s decision was based on falsified evidence and through it the judge actually made the journalist a victim of arbitrary police behavior.