Grebenshchikov fined 15K for Meduza interview
Moscow's Khoroshevsky District Court fined poet and musician Boris Grebenshchikov 15,000 rubles for an interview with Meduza under the article regarding participation in the activities of a so-called undesirable organization.
Consensus
- Boris Grebenshchikov was found guilty of participating in the activities of a banned organization under Article 20.33 of Russia's Administrative Code.
- The fine imposed was 15,000 rubles.
- The case was heard by the Khoroshevsky District Court in Moscow.
- The interview that triggered the case was published on Meduza's YouTube channel in April 2026.
- Meduza was declared a 'foreign agent' and a 'prohibited organization' in Russia.
- Grebenshchikov has lived outside Russia since 2020.
- Grebenshchikov was added to the Russian foreign agent registry in June 2023.
- The court case was based on a protocol from a prosecutor's investigation initiated in mid-September 2026.
- Grebenshchikov did not appear in court.
Points of divergence
- The interview was published in April 2026 as part of the podcast 'What Happened' (Что случилось). — meduza
- The court date was October 7, 2026. — vesti
- The interview was given five months before the court date, and the investigation was initiated by the Northern District Prosecutor's Office of Moscow. — tg_radiosvoboda
- Meduza was declared a prohibited organization in January 2023. — vedomosti
- The first new album by Aquarium in several years, 'Strange News from a Distant Star,' was released this year. — fontanka
- Grebenshchikov had previously been fined 50,000 rubles in 2023 for 'discrediting the army' and 40,000 rubles in October 2025 for violating foreign agent obligations. — meduza
- The Kuybyshevsky District Court of St. Petersburg previously fined Grebenshchikov 40,000 rubles for spreading material without indicating it was produced by a foreign agent. — vesti
Coverage (15 sources)
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined 40 thousand rubles by «foreign agent» article because of video without label on YouTube channel «Akva… — ASTRA
- Boris Grebenshchikov* fined for interview with Meduza** — РИАМО
- Court in Moscow fined musician Boris Grebenshchikov 15 thousand rubles for cooperation with an undesirable organization... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Court fined Grebenshchikov for cooperation with an undesirable organization — Вести
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined 15 thousand rubles for interview with Meduza — Радио Свобода
- Grebenishkova fined for participation in the activities of an undesirable organization — Ведомости
- Russian court fined Boris Grebenshchikov 15 thousand rubles for interview with Meduza — Meduza
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined 15 thousand rubles for interview with Meduza — BBC News Русская служба
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined in Russia for participation in activities of an "undesirable" organization — Настоящее Время
- Court heard case concerning Boris Grebenshchikov* — Фонтанка
- Boris Grebenshchikov* fined 15 thousand rubles: reason — Вечерняя Москва
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined 15 thousand rubles for interview with Meduza — ЭХО / Новости
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined 15 thousand rubles for interview with Meduza — Медиазона
- Boris Grebenshchikov fined 15 thousand rubles for interview with Meduza — Бумага
- Court fined Boris Grebenshchikov for interview with an undesirable organization — Москва 24
Key entities
- Boris Grebenshchikov
- Moscow
- Meduza
- Russia
- Khoroshevsky District Court
- Khoroshevsky Court
- Aquarium
- Moscow City Court
- Caution, News
- TASS
- St. Petersburg
- Great Britain
- YouTube
- Kuibyshevsky District Court
- Ruslan Shamukov