Natalia Smolyaninova
Natalia Smolyaninova, Ryazan Oblast. Charges: Article 163 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Extortion with the view to obtain property, with the use of violence, committed by a group of…); “The Ryazan journalists' case of extortion”. Status: under house arrest.
In brief
Ryazan Oblast · Ryazan · Journalists
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: house arrest since January 31, 2025
Charges
- Article 163 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Extortion with the view to obtain property, with the use of violence, committed by a group of persons or on a large scale
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, she conspired with "the director of a regional network media, who is a deputy of the Council of Deputies of a municipality of one of the districts of the Ryazan region", who in 2024 published several articles about the acting general director of a certain specialised commercial organisation operating in the Ryazan region, with disgraceful information, undermining his business reputation, detracting from his honour and dignity. After that, together with an accomplice, she organised a personal meeting with the acting general director and demanded money from him to stop publishing negative articles about him, and the latter gave them 300 thousand roubles.
Latest event
January 31, 2025 — persecution begins
The Ryazan journalists' case of extortion
Timeline
· Persecution begins
The Ryazan journalists' case of extortion
· Preventive measure: house arrest
Criminal case
The Ryazan journalists' case of extortion
- Case number
- 1-97/2026
Other defendants in the case
- Konstantin Smirnov — Location unknown
- Alexei Frolov — Under house arrest
Details and sources
Full summary
A journalist who worked for various media outlets in Ryazan. On 31 January 2025, she was detained in a case of extortion of 300 thousand roubles from the general director of a specialised commercial organisation in the Ryazan region. Smolyaninova was placed under house arrest.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 163 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.