Millions for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, new cases against political prisoners, and an escape from prosecution: NeMoskva news overnight
Massive bonuses for Novosibirsk police to combat unrest, a secret plot to assassinate journalist Maria Ponomarenko in a penal colony, and the expulsion of a Russian deserter from Lithuania. In Russia's regions and beyond, last night brought new reports of the persecution of activists, pressure on political prisoners, and the diversion of scarce budgets to law enforcement agencies. We've compiled the top news of the night in our traditional "NeMoskva" digest.
Channel seizure and escape: Ural opposition leader Bogdan Bukharin leaves Russia
Bogdan Bukharin, the author of the well-known Ural opposition Telegram channels "Lizard" and "Oppositionist," was forced to urgently leave Russia due to ongoing political persecution. The activist had previously been detained in Yekaterinburg and served two administrative sentences for displaying extremist symbols.
Following his arrest, security forces confiscated all of his digital equipment and seized remote control of his information resources. Bukharin himself, who in May reported physical attacks by police officers and radical Z-patriots, expressed hope to return to his homeland immediately after the current political regime changes.
Half a billion for loyalty: Novosibirsk police chiefs will be supported with rubles due to fears of unrest.
Novosibirsk Region Governor Andrei Travnikov has submitted a controversial bill to the regional parliament introducing monthly bonuses from the regional budget for heads of territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and police departments. The bonuses will range from 10 to 60 rubles per month.
Officials explain the need for such expenditures by a 10% staffing shortage within the agency and the high level of "public activism" among local citizens. The government directly fears that this activism could quickly lead to "uncoordinated protests and mass unrest." In total, approximately 520 million rubles have already been allocated in the deficit-ridden Novosibirsk Region budget for 2026 for financial support of the security forces' leadership.
An open letter to Aishat Kadyrova: Zarema Musayeva's daughter asks for solidarity
Zarema Musayeva's daughter, Aliya Yangulbaeva, addressed an open letter to the Chechen leader's eldest daughter, Deputy Prime Minister Aishat Kadyrova. In her letter, she called on her to show female solidarity and help free her seriously ill mother from prison.
Zarema Musayeva, forcibly abducted by Chechen security forces from her apartment in Nizhny Novgorod in 2022, was supposed to be officially released in the spring of 2025. However, shortly before her release, a new criminal case was opened against her, and in March 2026, the court delivered another harsh guilty verdict. Leading human rights activists attribute the ongoing persecution of the 56-year-old woman solely to the opposition activities of her sons, the Yangulbayev brothers.
Threat of violence in prison: statement from journalist Maria Ponomarenko
Convicted RusNews journalist Maria Ponomarenko reported increasing psychological and physical pressure ahead of her planned transfer to Penal Colony No. 6 in Shipovuno. While in custody, she overheard prison staff openly discussing plans to have her executed in the colony by other female inmates.
Fearing for her life under the strict prison conditions, Ponomarenko officially and separately stated that she had no suicidal thoughts. This was done to completely rule out the possibility of the prison administration staging her suicide.
Expulsion from Europe: Lithuania deports fleeing Russian deserter to Kaliningrad
Lithuanian authorities have officially deported a Russian citizen to the Kaliningrad region. He had previously deserted from the war zone in Ukraine and illegally crossed the state border. Lithuanian Border Service spokesman Giedrius Mišutis reported that the man had served his full sentence for illegal entry into the country.
While in custody, he initially requested political asylum in Vilnius, but later voluntarily and in writing renounced his request, agreeing to deportation. Russian human rights activists report that immediately after crossing the border in his homeland, the deserter was arrested by security services; his subsequent fate remains unknown.