Investigators have established the whereabouts of actor Smolyaninov

The Investigative Committee (IC) has revealed the whereabouts of actor Artur Smolyaninov (recognized in Russia as a foreign agent, included in the list of terrorists and extremists) accused of extremism and spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. This was reported by TASS on January 26, referring to the case materials.

"The decision to declare Smolyaninov wanted internationally, according to the defense [of the accused], is formal, as the State Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is aware of his whereabouts," the text of the document reads.

The agency added that in Smolyaninov's criminal case the term of preliminary investigation was extended for another three months, i.e. until April 26, 2025.

The day before, Russia asked the country where Smolyaninov lives for help in his criminal case. The artist, presumably, may be in Latvia: a week ago he posted a video in his social networks, to which he attached a geographical mark of Jurmala. In addition, Smolyaninov put on his publications tags Montenegro, Nice and Berlin, performed in Paris and the United States.

Earlier, January 23, it was reported that the debts of the actor for six months increased by Br50 thousand and reached almost Br216 thousand. They consist of a loan, fines for discrediting the Russian army and traffic violations and penalties for late payment of these payments.

Before that, on October 29, 2024, Basmanny court of Moscow in absentia chose a measure of restraint Smolyaninov, who left Russia, in the form of detention for two months. On November 3, the actor did not appeal against the arrest ordered in the case of spreading fakes about the Russian army.

In January of the same year, Smolyaninov talked to Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov (Vovan) and Alexei Stolyarov (Lexus), who introduced themselves as the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Andrei Yermak. During the prank, the actor said that he wants to get Ukrainian citizenship "turnkey" for all members of his family. The actor added that he is ready to perform for Ukrainians - both civilian and military.

In addition, Smolyaninov gave interviews to Ukrainian media, where he said that he "does not care" even if one region remains from Russia, and expressed his readiness to participate in combat operations in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In January 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice included the actor in the register of foreign agents. And in May of the same year, the artist was included by Rosfinmonitoring in the list of terrorists and extremists.