The Moscow Basmanny Court has lifted custody measures on the property belonging to Veronika Belotserkovsky, known online as Belonika and labeled a foreign agent in Russia. The news was reported by TASS, the state news agency.
Belotserkovsky was sentenced in absentia on February 6 to nine years in prison for alleged fraud against the Russian Armed Forces.
The court informed TASS that the ruling against the convicted individual is in effect and that the interim detention on her property has been withdrawn.
Reports indicate that the ex-wife of the defendant, Boris Belotserkovsky, had filed a request to remove the arrest from the property in question.
In February and March, Belonika publicly criticized Russian officials regarding developments in Ukraine. Although she has resided in France for an extended period, she was arrested in absentia in Russia and designated a foreign agent. She was among the early public figures accused of discrediting the Russian Federation’s armed forces. Additional context can be found in the coverage by Newspapers.Ru [citation: Newspapers.Ru].
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Russian authorities and individuals who operate across borders and who are labeled as foreign agents or critics of government policy. Observers note that legal actions in absentia can complicate the ability of defendants to participate in their own defense, while authorities emphasize the need to address alleged wrongdoing irrespective of where suspects are located. Coverage from state and independent outlets alike demonstrates the multifaceted nature of prosecutions tied to national security and military actions abroad [citation: TASS].
Experts point out that the designation of individuals as foreign agents in Russia carries political as well as legal implications, often impacting international perception and the availability of media access for those involved. The case of Belotserkovsky underscores how charges connected to discrediting the armed forces intersect with broader debates about freedom of expression, media influence, and accountability in high-stakes geopolitical contexts [citation: Newspapers.Ru].