The Insider’s Sergei Ezhov sentenced in absentia to six years in prison for “financing extremism” and “evading foreign agent obligations”

A Russian court has sentenced The Insider’s Sergei Ezhov to six years in prison in absentia for “failure to fulfill the obligations of a foreign agent,” “participation in the activities of an extremist organization,” and “financing extremist activities” (Articles 330.1, 282.2, and 282.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, respectively). Ezhov, whose investigations have exposed the inexplicable wealth of multiple prominent Russian state officials, also works with the late Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF). Russian state-controlled outlet RIA Novosti reported the verdict, citing a source in law enforcement, which also stated that Ezhov had applied for political asylum in Estonia.

The journalist, in turn, stated that he would continue exposing corrupt generals, politicians, oligarchs, and the children of the elite. “If we stop doing this, Russians will be left alone with deceitful propaganda. I’m relatively safe, and that’s precisely why I must do what those inside Russia cannot afford to,” Ezhov wrote on Instagram.

He also noted that he had not applied for asylum in Estonia and has no connection to the country.

In late September of this year, The Insider’s news editor-in-chief Timur Olevsky was declared wanted in Russia on charges of “participation in the activities of an undesirable organization.” The Insider and Bellingcat were labeled “undesirable” by the Russian authorities in July 2022. According to the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office, the outlets’ work “poses a threat to the constitutional order and security” of the Russian Federation.

You can read all of Sergei Ezhov’s investigations for The Insider here.