Former Russian State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev reportedly charged with treason and calling for terrorism

Former Russian State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev, who left Russia in 2014 and currently lives in Ukraine, has reportedly been charged with treason, participation in a terrorist organization, and publicly calling for terrorism, reports Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, citing a source in law enforcement.

“The FSB’s Investigative Department collected materials, which were the basis for cases against Ponomarev: treason by siding with the enemy, participation in the activities of a Russia-designated terrorist organization, making public calls to engage in terrorist activities via the Internet, and making public calls via the Internet for activities aimed against Russia’s security. FSB investigators have consolidated these cases into a single proceeding,” said the news agency’s source.

• Ilya Ponomarev previously served as a deputy in the State Duma’s “A Just Russia” parliamentary faction. In 2014, he was the only Russian lawmaker to vote against the annexation of Crimea. He left Russia soon after and received Ukrainian citizenship in 2019.