Update on the Sobchak case and related statements from Russian authorities
The Russian investigative committee did not open a criminal case against journalist Ksenia Sobchak regarding alleged false statements about the powers of the state. This outcome was reported by TASS, citing a law enforcement source who emphasized that no formal accusation was filed and that the investigation had decided against pursuing charges in this matter.
An unnamed interlocutor, speaking on behalf of the agency, confirmed that the decision not to press charges had been reached after careful consideration of the available information and the relevant legal standards. The official stressed that procedural steps had been completed in this specific episode, and no criminal proceedings relating to Sobchak under the examined allegations had been initiated. The wording suggested a formal closure or a decision not to advance the case as of that moment, with no indication of further legal action in this particular instance.
In October 2022, Moscow witnessed the detention of Kirill Sukhanov, who serves as the commercial director connected with Sobchak. Sukhanov characterized the arrest as an erroneous action, noting that the circumstances surrounding it were misinterpreted and that this mischaracterization had implications for subsequent legal considerations. The broader context involved questions about how decisions are made in such cases and the precision required when describing the roles of individuals who appear in related investigations.
Following the arrest, law enforcement authorities reportedly requested the investigative committee to pursue charges against Sobchak for disseminating what were described as “fake news about state power.” The move indicated a push from the police to broaden the scope of potential accountability for statements circulating in the media landscape, and it highlighted the ongoing tension between journalism, public discourse, and the official narratives that shape perceptions of state power in Russia.
Specifically, the director who was a witness in Vitaly Mansky’s case provided testimony in an interview with Sobchak, during which he claimed that a substantial portion—at least 85 percent—of the funds allocated to a prominent Moscow film festival were misappropriated. This assertion, attributed to the director, was reportedly crafted under the influence or direction of Nikita Mikhalkov, who heads the Moscow International Film Festival. The disclosure underscored how accusations of financial misconduct in cultural events can become entwined with broader debates about governance, transparency, and accountability within the Russian creative sector, prompting scrutiny from multiple legal and media observers. This sequence of statements and responses illustrates the fragile boundary between investigative reporting, editorial commentary, and the official channels through which information about state power is disseminated, contested, and interpreted by audiences both within Russia and beyond.