Artur Smolianinov
Artur Smolianinov, born 1983, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Artur Smolyaninov's case about "fake news" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (April 14, 2026): 8 years' imprisonment in absentia, prohibition on administering internet websites for 4 years. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Artists · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in absentia, prohibition on administering internet websites for 4 years
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.4 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Organisation of a terrorist community and participation in it
- Article 278, Russian Criminal Code — Violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order
- Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (using an official position, a group of individuals, falsification of evidence, for selfish motives, or out of hatred)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, in order to disseminate false information regarding the actions of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, he entered into a criminal conspiracy with unidentified employees of Novaya Gazeta. Europe, whose role consisted of producing and distributing a video recording of his interview.
Latest event
April 14, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 8 years.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Criminal case opened
The case of Anti-War Committee of Russia
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
· Persecution begins
Artur Smolyaninov's case about "fake news" about the Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Artur Smolyaninov's case about "fake news" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0217/2026
Thematic group: Anti-war case
The case of Anti-War Committee of Russia
Other defendants in the case
- Sergei Aleksashenko — Not in Russia
- Marat Gelman — Not in Russia
- Leonid Gozman — Not in Russia
- Dmitry Gudkov — Not in Russia
- Sergei Guriev — Not in Russia
- Boris Zimin — Not in Russia
- Vladimir Kara-Murza — Not in Russia
- Garry Kasparov — Not in Russia
- Mikhail Kasianov — Not in Russia
- Evgenii Kiselev — Not in Russia
- Mikhail Kokorich — Not in Russia
- Evgenii Kunin — Not in Russia
- Elena Lukyanova — Not in Russia
- Kirill Martynov — Not in Russia
- Yuri Pivovarov — Not in Russia
- Maxim Reznik — Not in Russia
- Mikhail Khodorkovsky — Not in Russia
- Evgenii Chichvarkin — Not in Russia
- Konstantin Chumakov — Not in Russia
- Anastasia Shevchenko — Not in Russia
- Viktor Shenderovich — Not in Russia
- Ekaterina Shulman — Not in Russia
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Actor, left Russia after the outbreak of war. In January 2023, he was included in the register of "foreign agents". In the same month, a case was opened against him, as it turned out later - about "fakes" about the Armed Forces and incitement to hatred. This was done on the personal instructions of the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin. Presumably, the reason was an interview with Novaya Gazeta. Europe", in which Smolyaninov said that he felt "nothing but hatred" towards the Russian military in Ukraine. In February 2026, the case was brought to court only under the article on "fakes".
On 14 October 2025, the FSB reported the initiation of a case against Smolyaninov and other members of the "Anti-War Committee of Russia" for violent seizure of power and organisation of activities of a terrorist community. The reason was the adoption of the "Berlin Declaration" on the need for a change of power in Russia.
On 14 April 2026, Smolyaninov was sentenced in absentia to eight years in the "fakes" case.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.4 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.