A criminal case has been initiated against an activist in Omsk, a major city in Siberia, for participation in an extremist organisation.

A criminal case has been opened against activist Nikolai Rodkin from Omsk, a large city in southwestern Siberia, under the article on participation in an extremist organisation (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by RIA Novosti.

According to law enforcement, the activist “took part in the activities of the international LGBT public movement.” In addition, as noted by RIA Novosti, he was a member of Omsk’s “Navalny Headquarters” until 2021, as well as a founder and coordinator of the “Omsk Civic Association.”

In 2022, the “Omsk Civic Association” evacuated all its founders and staff from Russia due to threats of persecution. In July 2023, the organisation was entered into the register of “foreign agents,” and in the autumn of that year the project’s founders, Richard King, Daniil Chebykin, and Nikolai Rodkin, were fined for failing to fulfil “foreign agent” obligations. In July 2024, King and Chebykin reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had annulled their Russian passports. In October 2024, the “Omsk Civic Association” announced its dissolution after being designated as an “extremist organisation.” In February 2025, Chebykin was added to the “list of extremists and terrorists,” and in April it became known that King was also facing criminal prosecution.

• The “Omsk Civic Association” is an independent media project that covered regional events and repressions against local residents.