A case has been opened against the editor-in-chief of The Insider for involvement in the activities of an “undesirable organisation.”

A criminal case has been opened against Timur Olevsky, editor-in-chief of The Insider news service, for involvement in the activities of an “undesirable organisation” (Part 1 of Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). This was reported on the Telegram channel of the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the press release, Olevsky continues to work with The Insider as editor-in-chief, despite the organisation being designated “undesirable,” and despite having already been held liable under a similar administrative article (Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

Investigators allege that Olevsky took part in publishing three videos on The Insider’s channel on one of the video-sharing platforms. Security forces deemed the content of the videos “aimed at promoting anti-Russian rhetoric, shaping negative public opinion about the domestic and foreign policies of the Russian Federation, as well as discrediting bodies of state power.”

Protocols under the article on involvement in the activities of an “undesirable organisation” were drawn up against Olevsky over broadcasts on the YouTube channel The Insider Live. In August 2024, he was fined 10,000 roubles (about US$110) for taking part in a broadcast where he said: “Hello everyone, I am the editor-in-chief of the newsroom at The Insider.”

• The investigative outlet The Insider was declared a “foreign agent” in the summer of 2021. A year later, the outlet was labelled an “undesirable organisation.”