The Moscow Solntsevsky Court has handed down a 14‑year prison sentence in a strict regime colony to Ilya Belostotsky, a former director, screenwriter, and head of the children’s program Yeralash, in connection with a pedophilia case. This information is reported by DEA News with reference to the Moscow prosecutor’s office.
The proceedings were held privately because the case involved the protection of minors and youth.
Initially, investigators charged Belostotsky under a milder provision related to indecent acts against a child under 14. The charges were later upgraded to include acts of a sexual nature carried out with violence or the victim being in a helpless state, which corresponds to point “b” of part 4 of article 132 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The updated charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in a penal colony.
Belostotsky was detained in October 2020. The verdict has not yet become legally binding and remains subject to appeal.
From 2005 to 2014, Belostotsky served as the production director for the children’s film magazine Yeralash. He is also known for directing The Trail series. Since 2004, he has been a member of the Union of Film Directors of Russia.
In November 2021, an interview with kp.ru cited insights from a volunteer associated with an international team focused on detecting pedophiles in Runet. The interview touched on allegations about how Belostotsky may have interacted with minors. The Runet group Ethics Team, which later disbanded, had some members who later collaborated with the Safe Internet League. [citation: Ethics Team, kp.ru interview].