The Basmanny Court of Moscow has sentenced Russian actor Arthur Smolyaninov to eight years in a general regime colony in absentia. The case was heard without the presence of the accused, who is currently outside of Russia. The verdict also includes a ban on administering internet websites for four years after serving the sentence.
This is reported by Finway
Charges and Case Details
Smolyaninov was found guilty under the article for “spreading fakes” regarding the Russian army. He has been included in the list of “foreign agents” and in the registry of terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation. Judge Yevgeniya Nikolayeva noted that the term of the sentence will be counted from the moment of extradition or detention of the actor on the territory of Russia.
“To find Smolyaninov guilty and impose a sentence of 8 years in a general regime colony, with a ban on administering websites on the Internet for 4 years. The term of the sentence will be counted from the moment of his extradition or detention on the territory of the Russian Federation,” announced Judge Yevgeniya Nikolayeva.
Prosecutor Diana Galiullina emphasized during the hearing that Smolyaninov “is tarnishing the country and the president,” and that correction, in her words, is only possible through isolation. She demanded nearly 10 years of imprisonment for the actor in absentia. The reason was his interview for “Novaya Gazeta Europe,” in which Smolyaninov commented on the shelling of Kryvyi Rih on December 16, 2022, during which at least two people died from a missile strike on a residential building. In addition to Smolyaninov, unidentified employees of the publication are also involved in the case.
Arthur Smolyaninov’s Position on the War
In January 2023, Arthur Smolyaninov publicly stated that if he were to find himself in a war, he would support Ukraine. Following this, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, called for a criminal case to be opened against the actor. Subsequently, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation included him in the list of “foreign agents” along with music critic Artemy Troitsky.
Ukrainian actor Roman Yasinovsky also noted that only participants of the “RDK” and Arthur Smolyaninov, known for his criticism of the actions of the Russian authorities, can be considered among the “good Russians.”