Oleg Kuvaev, creator of “Masyanya,” has been sentenced in absentia to four years in prison.

The Nevsky District Court in St Petersburg has sentenced artist and creator of the animated series “Masyanya,” Oleg Kuvaev, in absentia to four years and one month in a penal colony in cases related to failing to fulfil the obligations of a “foreign agent” (Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code) and for online calls to activities against the security of Russia (Article 280.4 of the Criminal Code). Medizona reports this. The prosecution had requested a sentence of five years and 11 months' imprisonment for Kuvaev.

The case under Article 280.4 of the Criminal Code is connected to the 169th episode of “Masyanya,” in which the main character addresses Russian soldiers and suggests they surrender. News of the criminal case over this episode emerged back in autumn 2023. During the trial, in particular, Ministry of Justice expert Vladislav Ivanov and two “internet users” were questioned; they had watched the cartoon and concluded that it “mocked” the Russian army and that viewers “could side with Ukraine” after watching.

Under the “foreign agent” article, Kuvaev was accused of failing three times to submit reports to the Ministry of Justice. He was fined 30,000 roubles (about US$340) for the first two infractions, and a criminal case was launched in spring 2026.