State Prosecutor Seeks 5-Year, 11-Month Sentence for Comedian Accused of Insulting Veterans and Religious Beliefs

A Russian state prosecutor has requested a nearly six-year prison term for stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin, who was detained last year after allegations surfaced that he insulted war veterans during a comedy act.

Ostanin was arrested in Belarus in March 2025 following a police complaint from Call of the People, a group known for its vocal criticism of Russians. They accused him of ridiculing veterans who lost limbs in the conflict with Ukraine.

The comedian has stated that his joke was not directed at war veterans, and the video from the performance that sparked the controversy indicates that the joke may have been misinterpreted.

Subsequently, Ostanin faced charges of inciting hatred and was labeled a terrorist and extremist in June.

Last week, he was officially charged at the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow, where he is now facing an additional charge for «insulting the religious feelings of believers» after authorities discovered a joke he previously made regarding Jesus.

During a court session on Tuesday, Ostanin accused Belarusian police of physically mistreating him during his arrest in March, claiming he sustained a spinal injury before being extradited to Russia for trial.

At that hearing, a prosecutor requested a guilty verdict on both counts and sought a sentence of five years and 11 months in a medium-security prison, along with a fine of 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,900).

The judge scheduled the next hearing for February 2.

During the proceedings, Ostanin proposed to his girlfriend Valeria Naumova, who is a witness in the case.

Mediazona reported that none of the individuals who claimed to be offended by Ostanin’s jokes attended the hearing on Tuesday.