Kynev is being held in the hospital at Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina pretrial detention center, where his leg has been placed in a cast, according to "Slovo Zashchite," which cited a source in the Federal Penitentiary Service's (FSIN) Medical and Sanitary Unit No. 77. His condition is assessed as moderate severity.
"Slovo Zashchite" described the injuries as the result of torture during arrest. TV Rain reported the same, citing the project.
The FSIN's Moscow department is conducting an investigation, according to sources.
Kynev's arrest became known on September 25. He was charged with attempted large-scale drug trafficking (Part 4, Article 228.1, Point "g" of the Criminal Code), an offense punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.
In February 2026, the Justice Ministry designated Kynev an "foreign agent." The ministry justified the decision by claiming the political scientist "disseminated inaccurate information" about decisions by Russia's public authorities and their policies, as well as about the country's electoral system.
Alexander Kynev is one of the most authoritative specialists on Russian regional politics and elections.