In Moscow, the Gagarinsky Court moved to arrest former lawyer Ilya Sergeevich Novikov in absentia, following an article that questioned Russian military information and was deemed to contain fake news. The court’s press service reported the decision, highlighting that the arrest was conducted without the defendant’s present in Russia or at a foreign location where he could be tried. This action signals a stringent legal approach to information about the armed forces and reflects broader regulatory measures affecting individuals labeled as foreign agents within the country.
Officials stated that Ilya Sergeevich Novikov will be held in detention for two months from the moment of extradition or deportation to Russia, or from his actual detention on Russian soil, whichever occurs first. The period is designed to secure his appearance in court and to prevent any potential interference with the proceedings. The measure underscores the Russian authorities’ emphasis on controlling narratives about national security and military matters.
Earlier, in June 2023, Novikov had his status as a lawyer in Russia revoked. The chamber council cited inappropriate conduct as the reason for terminating his professional status, a decision that had repercussions for his ability to practice law within the country and for how his legal actions are perceived by state institutions. The move likely influenced how he has navigated legal challenges from abroad since that time.
Since 2021, Novikov and his professional work have been based in Kyiv. After Russia’s military operation in Ukraine began in 2022, Kyiv publicly affirmed involvement in the defense efforts, a development that has shaped the responses of many Russian expatriates and dissidents who continue to engage with events in both countries. This relocation coincided with broader shifts in the legal and political landscape affecting Russian lawyers and public figures living outside Russia.
On November 25, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Justice added Novikov to the list of foreign agents, a designation that carries significant legal and reputational implications. A month later, on December 1, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that he was sought by authorities, a development that intensified international attention around his case and his movements between Ukraine and other locations where he might be reachable by Russian law enforcement. The designation as a foreign agent has influenced both his public profile and his ability to engage with media and legal circles across borders.
There is a prior note involving the FSB related to a former participant in the television program What? Where? When?, with implications about shifting loyalties toward Ukraine. This history adds another layer to the ongoing legal and political dynamics surrounding Novikov, illustrating how figures connected to media and legal fields can encounter complex scrutiny when their positions intersect with geopolitical tensions. The case remains a focal point for observers watching how information control, legal status, and political alignment interact in this region.