Russian authorities arrest 2 journalists on various charges

Russian law enforcement detained two journalists on various charges, including the illegal use and transfer of personal data and contacting representatives of the Ukrainian security agency, media reports and officials said on Thursday.

Oleg Roldugin, a journalist associated with Novaya Gazeta daily, has been detained for 48 hours as a suspect during a raid by the government authorities, the media outlet said in a statement.

He is suspected of the illegal use and transfer of personal data, committed for mercenary motives by a group of persons, or resulting in major damages.

"Investigative actions at the editorial office have been ongoing for nine hours. There is still no communication with our colleagues," the newspaper said.

In a separate statement, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported the detention of a former freelance correspondent for Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) in the city of Chita, the administrative center of the Transbaikal region. His name has not been disclosed. However, it is reported that the journalist is a resident of Chita, born in 1960.

Law enforcement officials claim that the man contacted representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and provided them with information about the resources of a local media outlet, as well as about a critical infrastructure facility, "for the purpose of organizing malicious computer attacks against them."