The Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow has handed down a five-year prison sentence in absentia to journalist, scientist, and Dissernet co-founder Andrei Zayakin, according to SOTAvision reporters.
Zayakin was convicted on charges of financing extremist activities for sending 1,000 rubles to the Anti-Corruption Foundation. During the trial, prosecutors sought a five-year prison term, while defense lawyer Mikhail Biryukov maintained his client's innocence.
Authorities initially detained Zayakin in August 2022, with Moscow's Basmanny Court imposing restrictive measures against him. However, he left Russia in October 2022, prompting authorities to issue an arrest warrant and try him in absentia.
Earlier in the investigation, Zayakin was added to Russia's registry of terrorists and extremists. The Justice Ministry later designated him as a "foreign agent" in November 2022.