An economist named Konstantin Sonin, once a teacher at the Higher School of Economics, has been placed on Russia’s wanted list by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The official record indicates that a clause from the Criminal Code was involved, though the exact article is not specified in the public summary. The ministry’s database identifies Sonin with a note that he is wanted under a section of the Criminal Code, but the precise reference is not disclosed in the listing.
According to the database, Konstantin Isaakovich Sonin, born in 1972, is sought under an article of the Criminal Code. At present, Sonin is listed as a faculty member at the University of Chicago. His tenure at the Higher School of Economics lasted from 2007 to 2022, during which he rose to the position of vice rector before stepping down in 2014 and later leaving the university altogether in the summer of the previous year.
Social media activity in this matter gained attention when the Moscow Department of the Investigative Committee announced criminal proceedings on March 25 under a specific clause of the Criminal Code that targets dissemination of false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. While the initial press release did not name the suspect, officials stated that the individual was a 51-year-old man who had traveled abroad previously. It later became clear that the person referred to was Konstantin Sonin.
Investigators allege that Sonin published inaccurate posts about the Russian Armed Forces on the Telegram platform sometime between April and July 2022. They describe the materials as containing linguistic and psychological elements that could incite hatred and hostility toward military personnel on the basis of belonging to a social group, as per the investigators. In a separate interview, Sonin discussed how the case might have originated from his posts about events in Ukraine and the city of Bucha, suggesting that his writings reflected his observations rather than any attempt to mislead. He also indicated that he believed his output simply reflected on real events.
Sonin has maintained that his recent trip to Kyiv, where he teaches, may have acted as a trigger for the case. Despite the criminal proceedings, he has continued to share timely updates about events in Ukraine on various social networks. In a March interview with a major broadcaster, he stated that his last visit to Russia occurred in the spring of 2022. The timeline of events coincides with the emergence of a new law in March 2022, often described as a response to the ongoing conflict. By February 2023 the Investigative Committee reported a growing number of criminal cases concerning forgery and the discrediting of the Russian military under related articles. These statistics reflect a broader pattern of online discourse and state response during that period of tension.
In this case, the public record depicts a prominent academic figure navigating a controversial intersection of academic freedom, online expression, and national security concerns. The narrative highlights how public debate on military actions and wartime events can intersect with legal actions, even when the individual claims to be presenting documented facts or personal reflections. The unfolding story illustrates how a scholar’s international affiliations and speaking engagements can become focal points in a legal and political conversation that spans multiple countries and media platforms. The case continues to attract attention from observers who weigh the balance between open discussion and the responsibilities that accompany public statements about national institutions and military events, especially in the context of a conflict that has drawn intense global scrutiny.