Arrestovich Sentenced to 11 Years in Absentia

Alexei Artestovich was sentenced in absentia by a Moscow military court to 11 years in prison for inciting terrorism and spreading false information about the Russian military, based on a 2022 video and a post about a strike on Kramatorsk railway station.

Consensus

Alexei Artestovich was sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Second Western Military District Court in Moscow.
The trial was conducted in absentia, with the defendant not present.
The court found Artestovich guilty of incitement to terrorism and spreading knowingly false information about the Russian military.
The charges were based on a video from March 17, 2022, where he allegedly called for destroying railway infrastructure used by Russian forces.
The charges also included a post from April 8, 2022, about a supposed Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk railway station.
Artestovich was declared a terrorist and extremist by Russia in May 2023.
He was formally arrested in absentia in February 2024.
Artestovich is currently outside Russia and has been placed on an international wanted list.
The court sentenced him to three years in prison followed by eight years in a general regime colony.
He was banned from managing websites and social media channels for four years.
The case was reviewed in a closed session for security reasons.
The court considered the case after exhaustive measures were taken to locate and extradite Artestovich.

Points of divergence

Artestovich was accused of criticizing Ukrainian authorities and had been involved in a collaboration with Russian journalist Yulia Latynina, which some commentators labeled pro-Kremlin. — tvrain
Artestovich has continued to operate a YouTube channel with a large number of subscribers despite the verdict. — tvrain
Artestovich has been charged with two criminal cases in Ukraine in 2023: one for propaganda of violence against women and another for knowingly false reporting of a crime. — tvrain
Artestovich served as an advisor to the President's Office from December 1, 2020, to January 17, 2023. — fontanka
Ukrainian President Zelensky imposed sanctions on Artestovich on May 1, 2025. — fontanka
The case was approved by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office on July 17, 2025. — vedomosti
Artestovich was re-registered in the wanted list in October 2025. — vedomosti
The sentence will be counted from the moment of Artestovich's arrest or extradition to Russia. — kommerant
The case was reviewed in one day in closed session for security reasons. — echoonline_news

Coverage (20 sources)

Alexey Arestovitch sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia in Russia — ЭХО / Новости
Arrestovich sentenced to 11 years in absentia — Ведомости
Arrestovich given 11 years in absentia in Russia for post about strike on Kramatorsk — Дождь
Court in Moscow sentenced Arrestovich to 11 years in prison in absentia — Радио Свобода
Arestovich sentenced in absentia in Russia — Фонтанка
Arrestovich given 11 years in absentia in Russia for post about strike on Kramatorsk — Дождь (Telegram)
In Moscow, former Ukrainian presidential office adviser Arестович was sentenced to 11 years in absentia — Коммерсантъ
Court in Moscow sentenced Alexey Arestovych to 11 years in prison in absentia on charges of fake news about the Russian army and calls for... — Varlamov News
Arестович sentenced in absentia to 11 years for fake news about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and calls for terrorism — Вести
Former adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office Alexey Arестович sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia in Russia — Настоящее Время
Former Zelensky office adviser Arестович sentenced in absentia in Russia to 11 years — Интерфакс
Aleksey Arestovitch sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia in Russia — Meduza
Alexey Arestovitch sentenced in absentia in Russia to 11 years in prison on charges of inciting terrorism and military 'fake news'... — SOTAvision
Military court sentenced Arестович* to 11 years in prison in absentia for fake news about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation — Вечерняя Москва
Former adviser to Zelenskyy's office Alexey Arestovitch sentenced to 11 years in absentia for post about Russia's strike on Kramatorsk and call to 'orchestrate total railway war against the enemy' — Медиазона
Arrestovich sentenced to 11 years in prison for calls to terrorism and fake news about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation — Москва 24
Resident of Ivanovo region sentenced for funding terrorism — Вести
Resident of Uхта sentenced to 10 years for justifying and aiding terrorism — Вести
In Bashkortostan, a local resident who worked for fighters in Syria was sentenced to 13 years — Вести
Inghushetia resident who showed his home to terrorists sentenced to 13 years in a colony — Вести

Arrestovich Sentenced to 11 Years in Absentia

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (20 sources)

Key entities

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