Chkhartishvili Grigoriy Shalvovich (Boris Akunin)

In December 2023, the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case against writer Grigory Chkhartishvili (Boris Akunin). He was accused of assisting terrorist activities, justifying terrorism and evading the performance of the duties of a "foreign agent. According to law enforcement's version, Akunin posted 'no fewer than 33 materials' in the Telegram channel without the 'foreign agent' label. The writer was accused of justifying terrorism due to a post from February 18, 2024: 'I was an evolutionist for a long time, but now I am for a revolution, because there is no other way to get rid of the dictatorship.'" There are no elections and there will not be any, the regime kills opponents or rots them in prisons. Yes, revolution is an explosion. But there are such blockages in history that can only be cleared by an explosion, Akunin wrote." 3. The reason for the accusation of 'assisting terrorist activities' was the writer's conversation with pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who introduced themselves to him as Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Minister of Culture Alexander Tkachenko. In the conversation, according to the investigation, Akunin called for the unification of Russian and Ukrainian cultural figures, insisting that victory could only occur 'in minds and hearts,' not on the battlefield. The writer also suggested more actively agitating Russian soldiers to surrender and defect to Ukraine. The writer himself is not in Russia. December 19, 2023, security forces came to search the Moscow publishing house "Zakharov", which publishes Akunin's books, as part of the proceedings. In January 2024, the writer was placed on the wanted list. On February 6, 2024, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow issued an in absentia arrest warrant for Grigory Chkhartishvili. The term of arrest is calculated from the moment of his actual detention, extradition or deportation to the territory of the Russian Federation. 14 July 2025, the 2nd Western Military District Court found Grigory Chkhartishvili guilty and sentenced him in absentia to 14 years in a strict regime colony, with the first 4 years to be served in prison, and a fine of 700 thousand. rubles. The court also deprived the writer of the right to post materials and administer websites on the Internet for 4 years.