Rostislav Murzagulov
Rostislav Murzagulov, born 1978. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); Article 330.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Violation of the procedure for activities of a foreign agent, committed by a person after being…); “Rostislav Murzagulov’s case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces and evading the duties of a “foreign agent””. Sentence (July 3, 2025): 8 years’ imprisonment in absentia and a fine of 250 thousand rubles with a deprivation of the right to administer… Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Journalists · Anti-war cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in absentia and a fine of 250 thousand rubles with a deprivation of the right to administer websites for 4 years
Upheld September 8, 2025
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
- 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
According to the investigation, in March 2024, the defendant, being outside the Russian Federation, posted a video containing knowingly false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the conduct of the special military operation on a popular video hosting channel administered by him. In addition, the man, having been declared a foreign agent, repeatedly posted publications on the same video hosting site and on his social networks without indicating this status. At the same time, he had previously been brought to administrative responsibility for similar offences.
Latest event
September 8, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Persecution begins
Rostislav Murzagulov’s case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces and evading the duties of a “foreign agent”
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
Criminal case
Rostislav Murzagulov’s case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces and evading the duties of a “foreign agent”
- Case number
- 1-250/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Formerly a deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Bashkortostan and a member of the local Public Chamber. He was the host of the YouTube channel Otkrytye media ("Open Media") (later NEVZLIN.media). In December 2022, he was included in the register of "foreign agents". In September 2024, it became known that Murzagulov had been declared wanted. A case was brought against him for disseminating knowingly false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and evading the duties of a "foreign agent". In July 2025 a court sentenced him in absentia to eight years in a general-regime penal colony, a fine of 250,000 rubles and a four-year ban on administering websites.
On 18 August 2025, Murzagulov was added to Rosfinmonitoring's list of "terrorists and extremists". His name was marked with an asterisk, which is how they mark defendants in cases brought under terrorist articles. Until then there had been no reports that Murzagulov had been prosecuted under such articles. The details of this case are unknown.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.