Support The Moscow Times!

Chichvarkin Won't Return

Businessman Yevgeny Chichvarkin ruled out leaving self-imposed exile Wednesday, saying he feared new charges.

Chichvarkin, 36, who helped found mobile phone retailer Yevroset, had faced charges of extortion and kidnapping dating back to 2003, but prosecutors dropped them this week.

Chichvarkin, who now lives in Britain, said he feared a new wave of prosecution if he returned to his native Moscow.

“The probability is almost 100 percent,” he told journalists in Moscow via video-link from London. “I don’t have any doubt about that.”

Chichvarkin also criticized Russia’s business climate, saying it was growing worse. “The spirit of Soviet traditions is coming back, it’s seeping from the holes in the floor,” he said. 

(Reuters)

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more