MOSCOW, July 28 (RAPSI) — The Russian investigative authorities have opened a criminal case over the fact of defamation against Dutch journalist Max van der Werff on the part of The Insider (recognized in Russia as a media performing functions of a foreign agent), lawyer Stalina Gurevich informs RAPSI.

Investigators of the police department of a Moscow district have opened a criminal case under the articles of the Russian Criminal Code on libel for dissemination of information discrediting her client, the lawyer said.

A search at the office of the editor-in-chief of The Insider Roman Dobrokhotov was carried out as part of this case. According to the RAPSI source, the man has not yet been charged. 

Representatives of the Dutch journalist allege that The Insider published false information that the journalist secretly cooperates with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff (GRU) and is paid by the Directorate to disseminate materials about the crush of the Malaysian Boeing MH17 in 2014. Dobrokhotov also put a link to The Insider article on his Twitter adding that van der Werff commited a crime working for the Russian intelligence service.

Earlier, the lawyer cited an expert opinion saying that the article published by The Insider and Dobrokhotov’s Twit contain “negative information” about the journalist.