Moscow Court Arrests Writer akunin in Absentia amid Terrorism and “Military Counterfeit” Charges
In February of this year, a Moscow court issued an in absentia arrest warrant for the prominent writer Akunin, citing charges related to the distribution of “military counterfeits” and “justification of terrorism.” This action follows Akunin’s declaration as a wanted individual at the end of January, after a criminal case was initiated against him based on two articles of the Russian Federation’s Penal Code. At the time, Akunin responded on social media, stating, “Hmm, terrorists have declared me a terrorist. However, I have long been surprised at the news from the Russian Federation.” Later, the writer, widely recognized as one of Russia’s most popular authors, was also designated a “foreign agent.”
Akunin departed Russia in 2014, following Russia’s actions in Eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. Even then, he voiced criticism of the Russian authorities, remarking, “I have the feeling that my country is occupied by the enemy.” After the commencement of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Akunin characterized the situation as the beginning of a new and terrible era. From the United Kingdom, he co-founded the support fund “True Russia” for Ukraine.
