A court in Moscow arrested Pussy Riot member Verzilov in absentia in a case of treason.

A court in Moscow arrested in absentia a member of the Pussy Riot group, the former publisher of Mediazona (recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation) Peter Verzilov (recognized as a foreign agent, included in the list of terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation) in the case of treason. This was announced on April 7 by the press service of the courts of general jurisdiction of the capital.

"By a decision of the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow, the investigator's request for a preventive measure in the form of detention against Verzilov Pyotr Yuryevich was granted," the Telegram channel said.

It is noted that he is accused of committing crimes under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("High treason") and Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code ("Public calls to carry out terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism committed using mass media).

It is specified that Verzilov was sentenced to arrest for a period of two months. It will take effect from the moment of his extradition to Russia.

At the end of September 2021, the Russian Ministry of Justice added Media Zone journalists, including Verzilov, to the register of foreign agents. In mid-November of the same year, Verzilov was put on the international wanted list. Later, on April 2, 2024, the court sentenced the publisher in absentia to eight years and four months in prison for faking stories about the army. On December 24 last year, he was added to the register of terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation.