A Russian court has arrested journalist Yury Dud in absentia over an interview conducted with a combatant fighting for Ukraine, law enforcement authorities announced. The Russian Investigative Committee told news outlet Lenta.ru that the legal measure was ordered because Dud interviewed Denis Kapustin, the leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps.
State investigators reported that Dud recorded the interview no later than April in Moldova. Dud subsequently published the video recording on the YouTube channel that he administers, where Russian authorities allege he engaged in the justification and propaganda of terrorism.
The court also ordered the arrest of Kapustin in absentia. In a related action, state proceedings were launched on September 29 to confiscate Dud's property and assets for the benefit of the Russian state.
Legal Designations and Conflict Context
Dud is a prominent Russian interviewer and media personality who achieved widespread popularity hosting long form video interviews on YouTube. Russia's Ministry of Justice previously designated him a foreign agent under state regulations on independent commentators, while the federal financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring placed him on its official list of terrorists and extremists.
Kapustin is likewise included on Russia's official list of terrorists and extremists. He leads the Russian Volunteer Corps, an armed paramilitary organization composed of anti-Kremlin Russian citizens fighting alongside Ukrainian armed forces. Russian judicial authorities have designated the unit a banned terrorist organization.
State Measures Against Overseas Media
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation serves as the principal federal agency tasked with prosecuting major criminal offenses and national security cases. In absentia arrest warrants issued by Russian legal courts allow state authorities to freeze domestic bank accounts, launch property confiscation procedures, and place individuals residing abroad on international wanted lists.
Moldova is a sovereign Eastern European republic situated directly between Ukraine and Romania. Since the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine, many independent Russian journalists and digital content creators have worked from neutral neighboring states to produce and distribute news to global audiences on international digital platforms such as YouTube.
