Russian court sentences writer Boris Akunin in absentia to 14 years in prison

A Moscow court sentenced exiled writer Boris Akunin in absentia to 14 years in prison on Monday, after he was found guilty of “aiding and justifying terrorism” and violating the law on “foreign agents”, independent news outlet Mediazona has reported.

Akunin, whose real name is Grigory Chkhartishvili, is a Russian-Georgian writer famous for his Erast Fandorin novels that have been published in dozens of languages around the world.

The charge of aiding terrorism relates to a conversation between Akunin and well-known Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, in which the writer encouraged Russian servicemen to switch sides and fight for Ukraine, and called a Ukrainian attack on the Crimean Bridge a “clear and direct way” to bring the realities of war home to “stupid people”.

The charge of justifying terrorism related to an online post where Akunin said he was for “revolution, as there is no other way to get rid of a dictatorship”, while the third and final charge concerned “at least 33” Telegram posts to which he had failed to add a notification that the material was by a “foreign agent”, as required by Russian law.

Prior to the sentence being handed down on Monday, Akunin wrote that he had taken no part in the trial. “I don’t recognise their court. I have not authorised any lawyer to represent me … and have not been part of this circus in any way.” After the announcement of his sentence, he joked with readers that he would next post in 2043, factoring in the four years subsequent to his release where he would be banned from administering internet websites.

Rosfinmonitoring, the Russian financial watchdog, added Akunin, who now lives in London, having left Russia in protest at the annexation of Crimea, to its list of “terrorists and extremists” in December 2023. The Russian Justice Ministry declared him a “foreign agent” the following month.