Political consultant and elections expert Alexander Kynev has been arrested in Moscow on drug charges, the exiled news outlet Mediazona reported Friday.
Kynev, a former political science professor at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, was charged with “large-scale illegal drug production, sale and trafficking,” his lawyer told Mediazona. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The circumstances surrounding Kynev’s arrest were not immediately known. Law enforcement officials have not commented on Mediazona’s report.
Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Kynev a “foreign agent” in February. Despite his public criticism of the government over the years, he chose to remain in Moscow amid growing political repression since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kynev, who wrote regular opinion columns for The Moscow Times before it was designated an “undesirable” organization in 2024, has worked as a political consultant since the 1990s, when he first worked on campaigns for the liberal Yabloko party.
Over the years, he has worked for a number of independent political organizations, including the now-disbanded election observer Golos.
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.
Remind me later.
