Russian media groups report police raiding journalists’ homes

Internet news portal Projekt reported that police had been at the home of chief editor Roman Badanin and that they had detained deputy chief editor Mikhail Rubin.

Access to Projekt’s website was also disrupted sporadically.

Employees with Projekt speculated that the searches were linked to a 2017 report by the group about a St Petersburg business executive.

Media operations-critical of the Russian government have complained that they are coming under increasing pressure from the government.

Some, like the Meduza portal, which had been critical of the government, have been categorized as “foreign agents.’’

Meduza says that the designation meant that business partners cut ties and that the Latvian-based organization had to shut down some of its editorial offices and slash pay for its employees.