Ilia Ponomarev

Ilya Ponomarev was a deputy of the State Duma from 2007 to 2016. He was elected to the Duma of the V convocation from the CPRF, and to the VI convocation from Just Russia. In 2011-2012, he took an active part in protests against the rigged elections and the power of Vladimir Putin. In 2013, he left Just Russia. In 2014, he was the only MP who voted against the annexation of Crimea to Russia.

In 2015, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against the MP for complicity in embezzlement (part 4 of article 160 of the Criminal Code with application of part 5 of article 33 of the Criminal Code). According to the investigation, the Skolkovo Foundation signed a contract with Ponomarev to conduct research work and lectures in the amount of 750 thousand dollars. The deputy received the money by preparing, as the IC wrote, "under the guise of research work, two reports that had absolutely no scientific value and did not meet the requirements of the terms of reference", and instead of lectures he gave "short blitz speeches of 3 to 18 minutes, and at events unrelated to the declared subject ("Commercialisation of new technologies" - OVD-Info's note)". In 2015, Ponomarev was stripped of his parliamentary immunity and arrested in absentia.

Now Ilya Ponomarev lives in Ukraine. In 2019, then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko granted him Ukrainian citizenship. In April, Ponomarev founded the TV channel "Morning of February", dedicated to the war between Russia and Ukraine. On 22 August 2022, Ponomarev claimed that a certain National Republican Army had claimed responsibility for the murder of publicist Darya Dugina, which had taken place in the Moscow suburbs the previous day.

Soon he was arrested in absentia in the case of spreading deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces. Later this case was merged with the case of public justification of terrorism. In September 2022, a criminal case was opened against Ponomarev, which, according to information as of February 2025, includes a number of articles: state treason, participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, calls for terrorism and activities against the security of the Russian Federation, creation of a terrorist community and seizure of power. On 21 October 2022, Ponomarev was included in the register of individuals - "foreign agents".

In September 2023, it was reported that a case was opened against Ponomarev for the activities of an "undesirable organisation". Apparently, this refers to the organisation Kongres Deputowanych Ludowych (Congress of People's Deputies), registered in Poland, of which Ponomarev is one of the leaders.

On 11 September 2024, Ponomarev was sentenced in absentia to ten years' imprisonment in the case of "fakes" and public justification of terrorism.

In June 2025, it became known that another case of public justification of terrorism was brought against Ponomarev because of statements in support of the "Russian Volunteer Corps". Apparently, this case was merged with the case of evasion of duties of a "foreign agent".

A case was also brought against Ponomarev for calls for mass disorder, incitement to hatred and financing of extremist activities in connection with the pogrom at Makhachkala airport in 2023 (we cannot say with certainty that there was a political motive in this case). In July 2025, the case went to trial. On 5 December, the court sentenced Ponomarev to 6 years and 1 month in a general regime colony - in combination with the punishment under the first sentence, he was given 12 years in a general regime colony.