The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has placed lawyer Nikolai Polozov and journalist Alla Konstantinova on a wanted list, as reported by local media. Both individuals were previously designated as “foreign agents” by the Russian government.
Polozov, currently residing in Ukraine, has a formidable history of defending activists and Ukrainians in Russian courts. This includes his defense of the activist punk rock group Pussy Riot in 2012 after their notorious protest performance in Red Square. He also represented Sergei Udaltsov, a leader of the “Left Front” movement that played a considerable role in anti-government protests around 2013. More recently, he has been involved in projects geared towards the defense and repatriation of Ukrainian prisoners, notably establishing the “Search.Captive” initiative in 2022.
Superimposed charges against Polozov remain unclear. However, incidents leading up to his current legal predicament include a fine for discreditation of Russian forces originating from his YouTube comments on war crimes in Ukraine, notably the Bucha massacre, and another fine for failing to label himself as a “foreign agent” on Telegram.
As for Alla Konstantinova, who has departed Russia, the charges stem from alleged non-compliance with foreign agent regulations. Her work with “Mediazona” since 2019 has concentrated on issues like abuse within Russian prisons and human rights violations post the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She has publicly stated her lack of immediate knowledge regarding the charges filed against her.
The political implications of these charges are significant given the backdrop of mounting tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and ongoing suppression of dissenting voices within Russia. Both Polozov’s and Konstantinova’s cases reflect a wider context of the state’s usage of “foreign agent” designation to stymie opposition narratives. For a more detailed exploration of these issues, consult the articles on Zona Media and previous coverage on Human Rights Watch.