Latest news with #BorisAkunin
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian court sentences writer on terror-related charges
A court in Russia has sentenced in absentia writer Grigory Chkhartishvili, known by his pen name Boris Akunin, to a lengthy prison term for facilitating and justifying terrorist activities. The author, who made a name for himself in historical fiction, has not lived in Russia since 2014. He has repeatedly criticized Russia's leadership since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated. In January of 2024, Russian authorities designated Akunin a foreign agent. On Monday, a military court sentenced the writer in absentia to 14 years in prison, while imposing a fine on him of 400,000 rubles ($5,000). According to the prosecution, the author has published statements in the public domain on multiple occasions since 2023 calling for the overthrow of the Russian government by force. In February of 2024, Akunin wrote in a Telegram post that he no longer believed in the possibility of 'evolutionary' change in Russia and expressed support for a revolution. In a phone conversation with Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus in December of 2023, the writer said he was ready to support Ukraine. Responding to the sentence, Akunin wrote in a Telegram post that he does not 'recognize their court,' dismissing the entire process as a farce. Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Expert magazine that Russia's current media restrictions are justified. 'This is a time of military censorship that is unprecedented in our country. The war is being fought in the information space as well,' the official argued. Russian authorities have also accused Akunin of breaking the country's 'foreign agent' law by posting content without the mandatory corresponding disclosure. Adopted in 2012, Russia's foreign agent law applies to individuals or entities engaged in financial or political activities in the interests of a foreign state. The designation imposes certain restrictions and requirements: foreign agents must label all their content accordingly, regularly submit detailed financial reports to the Justice Ministry, and disclose their funding sources. Failure to comply is punishable by up to two years in prison.
Novaya Gazeta Europe
5 days ago
- Politics
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
Russian court sentences writer Boris Akunin in absentia to 14 years in prison — Novaya Gazeta Europe
A Moscow court sentenced exiled writer Boris Akunin in absentia to 14 years in prison on Monday, after he was found guilty of 'aiding and justifying terrorism' and violating the law on 'foreign agents', independent news outlet Mediazona has reported. Akunin, whose real name is Grigory Chkhartishvili, is a Russian-Georgian writer famous for his Erast Fandorin novels that have been published in dozens of languages around the world. The charge of aiding terrorism relates to a conversation between Akunin and well-known Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, in which the writer encouraged Russian servicemen to switch sides and fight for Ukraine, and called a Ukrainian attack on the Crimean Bridge a 'clear and direct way' to bring the realities of war home to 'stupid people'. The charge of justifying terrorism related to an online post where Akunin said he was for 'revolution, as there is no other way to get rid of a dictatorship', while the third and final charge concerned 'at least 33' Telegram posts to which he had failed to add a notification that the material was by a 'foreign agent', as required by Russian law. Prior to the sentence being handed down on Monday, Akunin wrote that he had taken no part in the trial. 'I don't recognise their court. I have not authorised any lawyer to represent me … and have not been part of this circus in any way.' After the announcement of his sentence, he joked with readers that he would next post in 2043, factoring in the four years subsequent to his release where he would be banned from administering internet websites. Rosfinmonitoring, the Russian financial watchdog, added Akunin, who now lives in London, having left Russia in protest at the annexation of Crimea, to its list of 'terrorists and extremists' in December 2023. The Russian Justice Ministry declared him a 'foreign agent' the following month.
