On 29 May, the Soviet District Court of Nizhny Novgorod issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Igor Eidman, who is accused under articles relating to so-called “military fakes” (paragraph “d” of part 2, article 207.3 of the Criminal Code), evading his obligations as a so-called “foreign agent” (part 2, article 330.1 of the Criminal Code), and participating in a terrorist organisation (part 2, article 205.5 of the Criminal Code).

The Investigative Committee accuses Eidman of participating in a terrorist organisation because he reposted a fundraiser for drones for the “Freedom of Russia” Legion in his Telegram channel, and also because of an interview he gave to the Ukrainian channel “Seichas” in March 2024, where he spoke about the need to support the armed formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that Russians are joining. Because of this, he is charged with simultaneously participating in the “Freedom of Russia” Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Siberian Battalion.

The article on “military fakes” was applied to Eidman due to his post mentioning crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Bucha, and the “foreign agent” article for the absence of labelling in his posts and for failing to submit reports to the Ministry of Justice.

Since last autumn, Eidman has also been on the wanted list in connection with a case concerning a terrorist community (article 205.4 of the Criminal Code), which was initiated due to the activities of the “Free Russia Forum.”

• The publicist left Russia in 2011. In 2021, the Prosecutor General’s Office declared the Forum of Russian-Speaking Europeans, chaired by Eidman, as “undesirable.” Two years later, the publicist himself was added to the list of “foreign agents.” He also heads the German-Russian Human Rights Dialogue, supported by the German Foreign Office.