Ex-Head of Controversial Russian Media Group Receives 10-Year Sentence for Extortion and Drugs

A media manager from Russia, who previously managed the media operations of the late mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, including the notorious «troll factory,» received a 10-year prison sentence on Friday for extortion and drug-related offenses.

Ilya Gorbunov, who was at the helm of the Patriot Media Group from 2019 until mid-2023, was taken into custody last June on allegations of soliciting money from a former associate.

The Patriot Media Group ceased operations after Prigozhin’s unsuccessful rebellion against Russia’s military authorities in June 2023. Prigozhin and several of his top aides died in a plane crash in August of that same year, while Gorbunov momentarily disappeared from the public eye.

The «troll factory,» officially known as the Internet Research Agency (IRA), became globally recognized after being accused by U.S. intelligence agencies of meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The IRA was alleged to have conducted an extensive online campaign aimed at creating discord and influencing voters through fake profiles and misinformation across prominent social media platforms. Prigozhin, once referred to as «Putin’s chef,» later admitted to financing the operation after years of denying involvement.

Investigators in St. Petersburg reported that Gorbunov solicited between 10 million and 20 million rubles ($127,000–$254,000) from another media executive associated with Prigozhin in exchange for positive media coverage during an election campaign for a local office.

Gorbunov has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he was set up by law enforcement after offering help to his former colleague Alexander Malkevich with his election efforts.

On Friday, the Petrogradsky District Court in St. Petersburg convicted Gorbunov of extortion and drug trafficking. The drug charges were related to remnants of cannabis that authorities discovered during a search of his home.

Gorbunov was sentenced to 10 years in a high-security prison and imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles ($6,300).

“Be cautious, colleagues; this could happen to anyone,” he remarked to reporters at the hearing.

Previously, Gorbunov stated that prison officials had obstructed his attempts to join the Russian military and fight in Ukraine instead of facing trial.