Exiled Writer Boris Akunin Sentenced to 14 Years in Absentia by Military Court

A Moscow military tribunal has sentenced exiled author Boris Akunin to 14 years in prison on charges of endorsing terrorism, aiding terrorist activity, and violating “foreign agent” regulations in Russia.

Akunin, a well-known writer and critic of the Kremlin, faced a trial in absentia as he has been residing outside of Russia since 2014. In January 2024, he was placed on Russia’s list of “terrorists and extremists,” shortly after being designated a “foreign agent” by the authorities who subsequently issued an arrest warrant for him.

On the same day, Russian prosecutors sought an 18-year prison term for Akunin, accusing him of justifying terrorism through a Telegram post in February 2024, where he expressed support for a “revolution” within Russia.

He was further charged with assisting in terrorist activities during a recorded conversation with pro-Kremlin pranksters, Vovan and Lexus, who impersonated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko. In that conversation, Akunin expressed his backing for Ukraine.

Authorities also claimed that Akunin neglected to label many of his Telegram posts from early 2025 with the required “foreign agent” disclaimer.

Prosecutors additionally sought a fine of 400,000 rubles (approximately $5,100) and a five-year prohibition on website operations after his prison term. The judge ruled that he would be barred from running websites for four years following his release.

Typically, sentences delivered in absentia are enforced only if the individual is extradited to Russia.

Akunin, whose actual name is Grigory Chkhartishvili, reacted to the verdict with a sarcastic post on Telegram, stating, “That’s it, dear internet readers. This is goodbye for a long time. The military court is not only fair but also efficient. I’ve been handed a 14-year sentence, along with an additional four years during which I will be prohibited from managing websites.”

According to the state-owned news agency TASS, a court-appointed lawyer indicated that Akunin had pleaded not guilty. However, the author denied having authorized any legal representative and rejected the legitimacy of the trial.

“As is often the case, TASS is not truthful. I don’t ‘plead not guilty.’ I do not recognize their court,” he posted on Telegram.

Mediazona, a news outlet in exile, reported that only one witness for the prosecution attended Monday’s hearing in Moscow’s Second Western District Military Court.

Akunin has been a vocal opponent of the Kremlin, criticizing both Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He also co-founded “True Russia,” a platform that supports Ukrainian refugees and anti-war Russians living in exile.