The case was opened under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code, which covers participation in the activities of a terrorist organization, Mediazona reported, citing the agency. Investigators allege the teenager "took an active part in the activities" of an organization whose "ideology he adhered to."
According to the Investigative Committee, the youth received "recommendations for organizing protest voting" through a Telegram bot ahead of elections in the town of Kasli. The agency says he produced more than 150 "campaign materials" and distributed them in the entrances of apartment buildings. The committee's statement said the teenager took part in "the implementation of a project aimed at distributing the electorate's votes in favor of any opposition candidates."
Investigators searched his home and formally charged him. The statement does not specify when the teenager was detained. The agency said it intends to ask a court to impose a preventive measure.
The state propaganda channel RT published a video in which the teenager spoke about the Smart Voting bot and said he had been "used as cannon fodder," 7x7 reported.
Smart Voting is a project of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) that identifies opposition candidates in regions where they have the best chance of defeating United Russia. In November 2025 the Supreme Court designated the foundation's US legal entity a "terrorist" organization. Ahead of the State Duma elections, Yulia Navalnaya and Maxim Katz prepared a list of candidate recommendations for the Smart Voting bot.
Russia held elections to the State Duma, as well as to regional and municipal bodies, in September 2026. Activists have previously faced administrative cases over leaflets bearing Smart Voting symbols.