Russian comedian faces up two-year jail over missing "foreign agent" label

Russian comedian Semyon Slepakov is facing up to two years in prison for allegedly publishing an Instagram post without the mandatory "foreign agent" disclaimer required under Russian law.

The prosecutor told the court that Slepakov had previously been held administratively liable multiple times for violating regulations governing the activities of foreign agents, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Slepakov, who is listed in Russia's register of foreign agents, published an Instagram post no later than 2025 without including the legally required label stating that the material had been created by a foreign agent.

The comedian is charged under Part 2 of Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which concerns evasion of obligations imposed by Russia's foreign agent legislation.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment. The case is being heard in absentia.

Through his lawyer, Alexander Aldayev, Slepakov submitted a statement to the court arguing that he has not been in Russia since 2022 and has not published posts on internet platforms under Russian jurisdiction.

The statement also said the comedian does not understand the substance of the charges against him and that the accusations lack sufficient specificity.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov