Prosecution Seeks 5.9 Years for 'Masyanya' Creator
A court in St. Petersburg found the creator of 'Masyani', Oleg Kuvaev (designated as a foreign agent), guilty of articles regarding failure to fulfill obligations as a foreign agent and public calls against the security of the state.
Consensus
- Oleg Kuvaev, the creator of 'Masyanya', is being prosecuted for violating foreign agent regulations and making public calls against state security.
- The prosecution has requested a sentence of 5 years and 11 months in prison and a fine of 290,000 rubles.
- The case was handled by the Nевsky District Court in St. Petersburg.
- Kuvaev has been declared a foreign agent and is wanted by authorities.
- The case stems from one episode of 'Masyanya' that allegedly contains ideological hostility toward the Russian government.
- Kuvaev has lived abroad since 2006.
- The Russian authorities blocked the website hosting 'Masyanya' in 2022.
- Kuvaev was added to the foreign agents registry in 2023 and declared wanted in December 2023.
- The court is scheduled to announce its verdict on October 5.
Points of divergence
- Kuvaev was charged under Article 330.1, part 2 of the Criminal Code for failing to submit reports to the Ministry of Justice more than twice. — kommersant
- Kuvaev was administratively fined twice between February and September of the previous year, each time 30,000 rubles, for violating foreign agent laws. — vesti
- In spring 2022, Roskomnadzor demanded that Kuvaev remove an episode of 'Masyanya' containing allegedly false information about military actions in Ukraine. — vesti
- The court cited the video as showing 'ideological hatred and enmity toward the current Russian government and its officials.' — kommersant
- Kuvaev's lawyer requested an acquittal, but the final verdict will be announced on October 5. — vesti
Coverage (3 sources)
- Creator of "Masyani" sentenced to four years and one month in prison — Коммерсантъ
- Creator of "Masyani" requested 5 years and 11 months of deprivation of liberty — Коммерсантъ
- Prosecution requests sentence for creator of "Masyanya" Kuvayev for almost 6 years — Вести
Key entities
- Oleg Kuvayev
- Saint Petersburg
- Masyanya
- Nevsky District Court
- Moscow
- Court
- RIA Novosti
- RBC
- Ministry of Justice