Former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev, who is identified in Russia as a foreign agent, has been brought to court over his involvement with an organization once branded undesirable in the country. The report comes from the Baza Telegram channel, which has been following the ongoing legal developments surrounding his activities and associations outside Russia.
The Telegram outlet notes that Ponomarev has become a defendant in a case tied to the operations of a foreign organization recognized as undesirable within the Russian Federation. In May this year, Russia’s Ministry of Justice added the “Congress of People’s Representatives,” an entity founded in Poland in 2022, to the list of prohibited organizations. Ponomarev is listed as one of the founders of this organization. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has argued that the NGO’s activities threaten the foundations of Russia’s constitutional order and its national security. This designation places significant legal pressure on Ponomarev, who has lived in Ukraine, and on others associated with the group’s international activities.
According to investigators, Ponomarev participated in sessions of the “Congress of People’s Deputies” during November of the previous year and again from February to June 2023. The sessions reportedly involved discussions and resolutions that the Russian authorities view as actions undermining the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. In September, the politician faced charges under the third part of article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. If convicted, he could receive a prison sentence ranging from two to six years. The case underscores the broader Russian effort to sanction individuals and groups perceived as challenging the country’s sovereignty and constitutional order, especially when those individuals are connected to actions or organizations operating beyond Russia’s borders.
Earlier, in December 2022, Ponomarev was accused of spreading false information about the Russian military. The legal proceedings in which he is involved reflect a pattern of Russian authorities pursuing cases tied to alleged misrepresentation of military actions, a issue that has drawn international attention and raised questions about press freedom and political expression in the country. The evolving situation illustrates how Russia continues to pursue legal action against figures who have public profiles abroad and who maintain political activities that are critical of the state or that are conducted in exile. The case is being watched closely by observers interested in how foreign-based or exiled Russian political actors navigate legal constraints imposed by Moscow while engaging with audiences outside Russia.
In another vein, a separate and unrelated line of reporting mentions a recent incident involving a political figure from the United Kingdom, described here as a transgender MP who wore a skirt and high heels, experienced a collapse after hitting a pole and fleeing the scene. While this anecdote is included, it serves as a contrast to the legal and political dynamics surrounding Ponomarev and the broader international dimensions of post-Soviet political life. The juxtaposition highlights how disparate events linked to public figures can shape public perception and media coverage in ways that affect discussions about sovereignty, gender, and accountability across different countries.