Russian Tech Entrepreneur Added to Terrorist List Following Abduction and Controversial Comments

Russia’s financial regulatory body, Rosfinmonitoring, has added Russian-Armenian tech entrepreneur Areg Shchepikhin to its roster of «terrorists and extremists,» just weeks after his daylight abduction from a Moscow train station.

On June 3, Shchepikhin was recorded being forcibly taken into an SUV by individuals believed to belong to an ethnic Chechen group, a day following his provocative Instagram video that contained harsh criticisms of Chechens and Islam. Chechen officials asserted that he was not abducted but rather «detained by law enforcement.»

Later that evening, he was released, only to be apprehended by police on charges related to offending religious sentiments and inciting extremism. The individuals who allegedly abducted him have faced charges of kidnapping and abuse of power but have reportedly eluded arrest, with their current location unspecified.

On June 26, the Moscow City Court denied Shchepikhin’s request to challenge his pre-trial detention. He has reportedly shown «deep regret» over his social media statements and extended apologies «to all Russian citizens, particularly those in the Caucasus.»

If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to six years.

Rosfinmonitoring maintains a list that includes more than 17,800 individuals and over 800 organizations. This classification enables authorities to freeze bank accounts and restrict access to financial services without the need for a judicial order.