The investigation asks for the arrest in absentia of politician Gozman and economist Sonin

The investigation is requesting the arrest in absentia of politician Leonid Gozman and economist Konstantin Sonin (recognized as foreign agents) in the case of fakes about the army. The corresponding updates appeared in the Gagarinsky court database.

Initially, decisions on arrests were supposed to be made on February 14 (as indicated in the case files – 1, 2). However, as RIA Novosti was told in court, the arrest hearing was eventually scheduled for February 20.

Leonid Gozman was charged with Part 1 of Art. 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (dissemination of knowingly false information about the armed forces), Konstantin Sonin – part of Art. 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (based on political or other hatred). The first part carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, the second – up to ten years.

Politician Leonid Gozman was an adviser to Yegor Gaidar and Anatoly Chubais. One of the former leaders of the Union of Right Forces and Right Cause parties. Konstantin Sonin is a former vice-rector and scientific director of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, former vice-rector of the Russian Economic School (NES).

In September 2022, Leonid Gozman was twice given administrative arrests for 15 days for posts on social networks, after which he left Russia. Konstantin Sonin has been working at the University of Chicago since 2015.

Anastasia Larina