Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice
Moscow courts jail exiled journalist Andrei Soldatov and analyst Ekaterina Schulmann in absentia under the foreign-agent law
Confidence: Corroborated · 3 sourcesRussia · Oct 6, 2026
Subject of this story
Basmanny District Court
Ministry of Justice of Russia
Also named
Affected
Andrei Soldatov, Exiled Russian investigative journalist
Ekaterina Schulmann, Exiled Russian political analyst
Advocate
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
What happened
Moscow's Basmanny court sentenced Andrei Soldatov to four years in absentia on 30 March 2026 for violating the foreign-agent law and taking part in an 'undesirable' organization; on 2 March a Moscow court gave Ekaterina Schulmann one year in absentia for not labeling three social media posts and a video. CPJ counts 27 exiled journalists sentenced to jail in absentia and notes a September 2025 law making foreign agents criminally liable after a first administrative violation. The sentences would take effect only if they return or are extradited to Russia.
Sources (3)
themoscowtimes.comFour years in medium-security colony in absentia, Basmanny court, 30 March 2026.
themoscowtimes.comOne year in absentia for failing to label three posts and one video.
Committee to Protect Journalists27 exiled journalists sentenced to jail in absentia; September 2025 law makes foreign agents criminally liable after first administrative violation.
Response
Basmanny District Court
No response by publication
Contacted — no response by publication.
Ministry of Justice of Russia
No response by publication
Contacted — no response by publication.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.