MOSCOW, September 30 (RAPSI) – Editor-in-chief of The Insider media (recognized in Russia as a media performing functions of a foreign agent) Roman Dobrokhotov has been put on a wanted list on the illegal border crossing charges, his attorney Yulia Kuznetsova has told RAPSI.

On Thursday, searches were conducted in the journalist’s flat as part of the case. He could face up to 2 years behind bars if convicted.

In July, investigators opened a criminal case over the fact of defamation against Dutch journalist Max van der Werff on the part of The Insider. A search at the office of the editor-in-chief of The Insider Roman Dobrokhotov was carried out as part of this case. 

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.