A case of “undesirable” organization has been opened against former deputy Ilya Ponomarev

A criminal case has been opened against former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev under the article on the activities of an "undesirable" organization (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). RIA Novosti reported this with reference to its own source in law enforcement agencies. In April, the Prosecutor General's Office recognized the activities of the organization "Congress of People's Deputies" ("Kongres Deputowanych Ludowych"), one of the leaders of which is Ponomarev, as "undesirable". According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the goal of the "Congress of People's Deputies" is "the violent seizure of power in Russia". - The first criminal case against Ponomarev in 2015, a year before that he became the only deputy to vote against the annexation of Crimea to Russia. At that time, the politician was in the United States and after that he never returned to Russia. In 2015, he was put on the international wanted list. In 2019, Ponomarev received Ukrainian citizenship. opened - In August 2022, Ponomarev was charged with disseminating "fakes" about the Russian army, and in October he was put on the wanted list again. That same month, the politician was added to the register of "foreign agents". arrested in absentia declared entered - In September 2022, in , , , , , and searches were conducted at municipal deputies in the Ponomarev case. Security forces also conducted searches in and in . Security forces believe that the politicians are allegedly connected with the oppositionist and participated in meetings of the "Congress of People's Deputies". Moscow Moscow Region Voronezh Oryol Region Yekaterinburg Tyumen Rostov-on-Don December 2022 May 2023