Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Adds DOXA Co-Founder Aramyan to ‘Terrorists and Extremists’ List

Armen Aramyan. Sergei Bobylev / TASS

Russia’s state financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring added Armen Aramyan, editor and co-founder of the independent youth Magazine DOXA, to the country’s list of “terrorists and extremists,” the outlet reported Tuesday.

Last week, a Moscow court ordered Aramyan’s arrest in absentia on charges of “justifying terrorism” and spreading “fakes” about the military on social media. Prosecutors did not specify which posts or statements led to the charges.

Responding to the news Tuesday about being designated as a “terrorist and extremist,” Aramyan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “It took a while.” He currently resides outside of Russia, where DOXA was designated an “undesirable” organization earlier this year.

Being added to Russia’s lists of “extremists and terrorists” allows the authorities to freeze designees’ bank accounts without a court order.

In 2021, Aramyan, along with several other DOXA editors, was accused of inciting minors to take part in unsanctioned opposition protests and placed under house arrest. He fled Russia shortly after being sentenced to two years of correctional labor.

On Monday, a Russian court sentenced former DOXA editor Maria Menshikova for posts she made on social media in 2022.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

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 every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more