The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has placed lawyer Ilya Novikov on its wanted list. This action follows an official determination, in which Novikov was registered as a foreign agent by a decision of the Ministry of Justice. The ministry is currently maintaining his profile in its internal database as a person sought by law enforcement.
The basis for the search is cited as a clause drawn from the Criminal Code, but the ministry has not disclosed further details about the evidence or the case specifics.
On 25 November, the Russian Ministry of Justice added Novikov to the list of individuals designated as foreign agents. The same registry includes former Yekaterinburg mayor Evgeny Roizman, television presenter Anna Mongait, Vitaly Kolin, Alexandra Garmazhapova, and Fedor Telin. The ministry states that all listed individuals are registered to carry out political activities, and Ukraine is noted in the financial sources column for each participant on the list. This description implies a shared concern over funding origins tied to their public work.
Since 2021, the lawyer has been based in Kiev, where he has stated that, following the start of what is described as a special military operation in 2022, Kiev became involved in regional defense activities. The situation reflects ongoing tensions over political advocacy and information operations in the region, with multiple figures facing scrutiny under foreign agent legislation.
Earlier reports note that the MIA has also placed journalist Andrey Karaulov on a federal wanted list. Karaulov described an incident in which his home was searched, and personnel allegedly attempted to force entry using a grinder-equipped tool. He related this to a statement by the head of Rostec, Sergey Chemezov, alleging slander in connection with the case. The described events contribute to a broader narrative about political expression, media freedom, and legal actions tied to high-profile public figures.
*Recognized as a foreign agent by the decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation