A court in Moscow arrested political scientist Alexander Kynev on charges of drug trafficking

A court in Moscow took into custody political scientist Alexander Kynev (in the register of “foreign agents”). One of the main experts on Russian elections and regional politics is accused of drug trafficking.

Mediazona (in the register of “foreign agents”) was the first to report that a meeting was held in the Perovsky Court of Moscow to suppress Kynev.

According to the publication, the well-known Russian political scientist is charged with illegal production, sale or transfer of drugs on a large scale (clause “d”, part 4 of article 228.1 of the Criminal Code). This article provides for 10 to 20 years in prison.

“I confirm that I did not admit guilt, the arrest will be appealed. I can’t give any other details yet,” the political scientist’s lawyer, Mikhail Biryukov, told the BBC Russian Service.

Kynev is a candidate of political sciences, specializing in the analysis of the structure of power in the constituent entities of Russia. He acts as a guest expert in independent media, has been collaborating with the Liberal Mission Foundation (in the register of “foreign agents”) since 2018, and is a member of its council.

Previously, Kynev taught at the Higher School of Economics, headed the analytical department of the Golos association, and also coordinated election monitoring projects at the Committee of Civil Initiatives and the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies.

From 1996 to 2000, he worked in the central apparatus of the Yabloko party and the apparatus of the State Duma.

On February 20, 2026, the Russian Ministry of Justice added the political scientist to the register of “foreign agents.”

Kynev last updated his Telegram channel on September 23. On September 22, he published a post that “he was very tired of working for four months, single-handedly conducting heavy monitoring, on the basis of which four public reports were written” about the parliamentary elections in Russia.