On the morning of October 24, law enforcement officers from the Investigative Committee, the Federal Security Service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to the home of the editor-in-chief’s mother in the Zavolzhsky District of Ulyanovsk. Among other things, they read her personal correspondence. Later, the 61-year-old woman’s means for communication were seized.

The search was conducted as part of a criminal case involving military “fake news.” Anastasia Chumakova, the editor-in-chief of ASTRA, was charged under Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which states that she has publicly disseminated false information about the Russian Armed Forces under the guise of reliable reports, causing serious consequences. The charge specifies that the “crime” was committed out of political, ideological, racial, national, or religious hatred or enmity, or out of hatred or enmity towards a social group.

It is unclear which publication led to the criminal prosecution. Anastasia’s mother has been questioned as a witness. Anastasia herself has not lived in the apartment where the search took place for more than 10 years, and she is not registered there. The investigation of the criminal case is being conducted by the Investigative Committee of the Zavolzhsky District of Ulyanovsk.

The journalist may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Earlier, Anastasia Chumakova, the editor-in-chief of ASTRA, was fined 35,000 rubles for failing to report herself as the head of a media outlet that had been registered as “foreign agent.” The publication became “foreign agent” in October 2024. Anastasia herself was not included in the Ministry of Justice register. She currently lives abroad.