The unknown vandals also stuck a sticker of the Ukrainian trident symbol emblazoned with the word "Judensau" (Jewish pig) in red letters on the apartment door and put the pig's head in a wig of curly white hair -- an apparent link to Venediktov's own hairstyle.

 

Ekho Moskvy, one of Russia's leading media outlets, was taken off the air on March 1 amid a Russian crackdown on independent media covering Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The popular radio station was shut down after the Prosecutor-General's Office demanded Russian authorities cut Ekho Moskvy for distributing what it called information that "calls for extremist activities, violence, and premeditated false information about Russian military personnel’s special operation" in Ukraine.

Roskomnadzor has warned media outlets across the country that Russia's invasion of Ukraine cannot be called war or an invasion, and should instead be referred to as a "special military operation in Ukraine."

On March 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into effect a law that calls for sentences of up to 15 years in prison for people who distribute "false news" about the Russian army.