Moscow court refuses to arrest exiled novelist Boris Akunin in absentia

The Tagansky District Court of Moscow has declined a request from investigators to arrest in absentia exiled novelist Boris Akunin, born Grigory Chkhartishvili, in a criminal case over alleged violations of Russia’s legislation on “foreign agents.”

The court said it had received a petition to place Chkhartishvili in custody under Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which concerns “repeated violations of the rules governing the activities of foreign agents after prior administrative punishment.” However, it returned the case materials to the investigative body without approval, Caliber.Az reports via TASS. 

This is the second criminal case launched against the writer. On July 15, the Second Western District Military Court found him guilty in absentia of allegedly “publicly justifying terrorism,” “aiding terrorist activities,” and “evading obligations under Russia’s foreign agents law.”

He was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment — the first four in prison and the remainder in a strict-regime colony — along with a fine of 600,000 roubles (about $7,500) and a four-year ban on administering websites. The sentence will come into effect if he is detained when crossing the Russian border or extradited. Akunin has denied all charges.

Akunin, a prominent Kremlin critic, has lived abroad since 2014. He was added to Russia’s list of “terrorists and extremists” in January 2024, shortly after being designated a “foreign agent” and placed on a wanted list. 

Prosecutors accuse him of “justifying terrorism” in a February 2024 Telegram post supporting a “revolution” in Russia, and of “facilitating terrorism” in a phone conversation with pro-Kremlin pranksters posing as Ukrainian officials, during which he voiced support for Ukraine.

The author has long opposed the Kremlin’s policies, including Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He co-founded True Russia, a platform supporting Ukrainian refugees and anti-war Russians in exile.

Boris Akunin is best known for his historical detective fiction, particularly the Erast Fandorin series, which has been translated into multiple languages and sold millions of copies worldwide.

By Sabina Mammadli