Bangladesh, Dec. 24 -- The revocation of Russian citizenship from investigative journalist Roman Anin marks a new and alarming escalation in the Kremlins war on independent journalism. Anin, the founder and former editor-in-chief of the investigative outlet IStories (Vazhnye Istorii), was stripped of his Russian citizenship following the publication of reports documenting the killing of Ukrainian civilians by Russian troops in the town of Bucha during the early months of Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian authorities claim the move is legally justified. Yet the timing, legal rationale, and political context surrounding Anins case leave little doubt that this is a punitive act aimed at silencing reporting that contradicts the...