Moscow Court Issues In Absentia Arrest Warrant for Exiled Businessman Chichvarkin Over Allegations of War Disinformation

A court in Moscow has issued an order for the in absentia arrest of London-based restaurateur Yevgeny Chichvarkin on allegations of disseminating «false information» about the conflict in Ukraine and not complying with «foreign agent» requirements.

In March, state prosecutors announced their intention to pursue criminal charges against Chichvarkin for continuing to make public statements without acknowledging that Russia’s Justice Ministry had designated him a «foreign agent» in June 2022.

In July, Russian authorities issued a warrant for Chichvarkin’s arrest on unspecified charges. He is the owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Hide in London.

According to the Telegram channel of the municipal court system, the Dorogomilovsky District Court in Moscow has ordered Chichvarkin to be held in pre-trial detention for a period of two months related to both «foreign agent» and «false war narratives» accusations. This detention will commence once he is extradited to Russia or taken into custody there.

Details regarding the «false war narratives» charges have not been disclosed.

Chichvarkin is a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his choice to invade Ukraine in February 2022.

He was among the founders of the mobile phone retailer Yevroset in the late 1990s, which he developed into a significant brand. In 2008, Chichvarkin fled to the UK, expressing fears for his safety if imprisoned in Russia, where he faced allegations of extortion and kidnapping, which he claimed were motivated by political reasons.

Those allegations were dropped in 2011.