Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin was sent to pre-trial detention center

The day before he was detained in a case of illegal use of personal data

The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow placed Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin in a pre-trial detention center until May 10, a Mediazona correspondent reported from the courtroom.

The investigation asked to send him into custody. At the trial, Roldugin asked for a more lenient measure of restraint, emphasizing that he did not want to hide abroad, and all media were taken away from him.

The security forces also looked at chats on the journalist’s phone, including those with telegram bots. Calls to bots became one of the evidence in the criminal case against Roldugin, “Caution, News” reports .

Defense attorney Marina Andreeva noted at the trial that Roldugin’s wife does not work, which means that without him the family will be left without a livelihood.

The day before, Roldugin was detained for 48 hours as a suspect in a case of illegal use and transfer of personal data committed for mercenary reasons, by a group of persons or causing major damage (Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code). The article provides for punishment of up to six years in prison.

Neither the journalist himself nor the defense understands whose personal data, as presented to the investigation, Roldugin illegally received and used.

Before Roldugin’s arrest, searches took place in the Moscow office of Novaya Gazeta; they lasted 13 hours. The security forces took away the equipment and documents.

The search took place in the morning in Roldugin’s apartment, after which he was taken to the main investigative department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow for interrogation, Novaya reported . The lawyer was only allowed to see the journalist in the evening.

Novaya Gazeta’s newsletter tells readers that the security forces have no complaints against the editors or the site, Meduza noted . The search was carried out in connection with a case in which “questions arose” for Roldugin.

Oleg Roldugin is the co-founder of the Sobesednik newspaper, which ceased operations in 2024, and a columnist for Novaya Gazeta. In Novaya, in particular, he published investigations aboutthe formal founders of the state messenger Max and about real estate associated with Ramzan Kadyrov’s entourage.