Denis Kataev
Denis Kataev, born 1985. Charges: Article 330.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Violation of the procedure for activities of a foreign agent, committed by a person after being…); “Denis Kataev's case of evading the duties of a "foreign agent"”. Sentence (February 12, 2026): 1 year 4 months of imprisonment in absentia. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Journalists · Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
1 year 4 months
of imprisonment in absentia
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- 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
In September 2023, the Ministry of Justice added Kataev to the list of foreign agents. After that, he was twice fined under the administrative article on failure to fulfil the duties of a foreign agent. The reason for the case was the publication of posts in the Telegram channel "French Herald" without the required notification that the author was recognised as a "foreign agent".
Latest event
February 12, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 4 months.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 4 months
· Persecution begins
Denis Kataev's case of evading the duties of a "foreign agent"
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
Criminal case
Denis Kataev's case of evading the duties of a "foreign agent"
Details and sources
Full summary
Presenter of the Dozhd TV channel. Left Russia after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. In October 2025, RIA Novosti reported, citing a source in law enforcement agencies, that a case had been opened against him for evading his duties as a foreign agent. In December, the Ministry of Internal Affairs put him on a wanted list. On 13 February 2026, Kataev was sentenced in absentia to a year and four months in prison.
In September 2023, the Ministry of Justice added Kataev to the list of foreign agents. After that, he was twice fined under the administrative article on failure to fulfil the duties of a foreign agent.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 330.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.