Arkady Babchenko
Arkady Babchenko, born 1977, Moscow. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 330.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Violation of the procedure for activities of a foreign agent, committed by a person after being…). Sentenced on July 17, 2026. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Bloggers, Journalists · Terrorism cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
1 year 6 months
Imprisonment (open prison colony)
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 212 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Incitement to mass riots
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 330.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Violation of the procedure for activities of a foreign agent, committed by a person after being persecuted for an administrative offence
Full wording of the charges
called for rioting on the Internet.
Latest event
July 17, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 6 months.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 6 months
· Criminal case opened
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Criminal case opened
Arkady Babchenko's case under the "terrorist" article
· Persecution begins
Arkady Babchenko's case on calls for mass riots
Criminal case
Arkady Babchenko's case under the "terrorist" article
Arkady Babchenko's case on calls for mass riots
Details and sources
Full summary
Formerly a military correspondent for "The Novaya Gazeta". A blogger who has been actively criticising the Russian authorities for many years. Since 2017, he has been living in Ukraine. In May 2018, the Security Service of Ukraine staged Babchenko's murder in order to detain the alleged organiser of the assassination attempt.
On 2 March 2012, the Moscow prosecutor's office opened a criminal case under part 3 of article 212 of the Criminal Code. The consequences are unknown.
In July 2020, Babchenko was included on the list of extremists and terrorists of Rosfinmonitoring with a note that is placed with the names of people prosecuted under terrorist articles. In January 2023, the journalist was put on the wanted list.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 3
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.