Vyacheslav Chernov

A businessman from Tashtagol, Kemerovo region. He has been engaged in civic activism for many years, advocating against corruption and for the improvement of local infrastructure and urban development. In 2021, he ran for the State Duma but lost to candidates from United Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF).

In November 2021, a search was conducted at Chernov’s home in connection with a criminal case regarding unlawful access to computer information, in which he was a witness. The case was initiated after the publication on YouTube of audio recordings of a 2018 conversation between Chernov, other entrepreneurs, and Governor Sergey Tsivilyov.

In October 2021, two administrative cases of extremism were initiated against Chernov for "negative remarks" about deputies and a Kemerovo oligarch, who he claimed were involved in the alleged raider takeover of his business in Sheregesh. He was arrested for 10 days.

By April 2022, Chernov was charged with inciting hatred. The reason was a video dedicated to investigating the causes of the explosion at the Listvyazhnaya mine. In the video, the blogger referred to the incident as a result of a "system of total lies" encompassing election results, COVID-19 statistics, environmental conditions, and safety protocols. He also accused the head of the regional Investigative Committee of involvement in the raider takeover of the mine.

In July 2022, Chernov was fined 45,000 rubles under the article on "discrediting" the army.