08:49, 18 October 2025

The court extended the arrest of comedian Artemy Ostanin.

Artemy Ostanin, video still from https://t.me/podslushano_yeysk/12686

A Moscow court extended the pretrial detention of Yeysk stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin. His defense disagreed with the decision.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in September, Moscow's Meshchansky District Court granted the investigation's motion and extended Artemy Ostanin's pretrial detention. The defense requested a more lenient measure of restraint, not involving imprisonment, but the court rejected the motion.

A criminal case was opened against Yeysk stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin after a performance in which he joked about a disabled person with no legs. Investigators interpreted his words as an insult to a participant in a military operation, but Ostanin himself claims he was joking about a simple beggar. During questioning, he apologized for his joke. The case is being investigated under Article 282, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code for inciting hatred or enmity. The comedian faces up to six years in prison.

Moscow's Meshchansky Court extended Artemy Ostanin's pretrial detention, RIA Novosti reported today, citing court documents. "The court granted the investigator's motion to extend Ostanin's pretrial detention," the agency quotes the document as saying.

The defense appealed this decision, but the appeal date has not yet been set, the publication states.

Ostanin was detained while attempting to leave Russia. In court, he stated that he was beaten during his arrest and reported a broken spine. On June 23, human rights activists recognized Ostanin as a political prisoner.

Ostanin filed a complaint with the Investigative Committee about a beating by Belarusian security forces, according to a report prepared by the "Caucasian Knot" entitled "Key Points to the Beating and Arrest of Comedian Artemy Ostanin."

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/416435