The prosecutor's office demanded that Ostanin's punishment be increased.

During the appeal hearing, it was revealed that the prosecutor's office is demanding a two-month increase in the sentence of comedian Artemy Ostanin, convicted of jokes about a disabled man and Jesus Christ. Several defense motions were denied, including one to recuse the judges and return the case for retrial.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot" on February 3, Yeysk comedian Artemy Ostanin, speaking at a Moscow court hearing, denied the charges and called the victims in the case "professional informers." However, he apologized to those who might have been offended by his remarks. Artemy Ostanin was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months for monologues about a legless man and an imaginary dialogue with Jesus Christ. Comedian called the sentence illegal.

The prosecutor's office is demanding a two-month increase in comedian Artemy Ostanin's sentence. This was revealed during today's appeal hearing in the Moscow City Court. The prosecutor's office is demanding a five-year, eleven-month sentence. This is just a month shorter than the maximum possible sentence, the "Slovo Zashchity" project reported today.

In court, Ostanin announced that he had a wedding planned for the end of March with his colleague and defense witness, Valeria Naumova. He also requested that Naumova be admitted to the trial as a public defender assisting his lawyer. The court refused because she was already listed as a witness in the case, according to another publication by the project.

Lawyer Mikhail Meshcheryakov requested that the case be returned to the trial court because he was not allowed to review the written minutes of the hearings, only the audio version. The prosecution confirmed this but objected to the case being returned. The court agreed with her.

The main points about the beating and arrest of comedian Artemy Ostanin

Ostanin claimed that he received a copy of his lawyer's appeal only today at 10 a.m., although he met with his defense attorney in the pretrial detention center yesterday. After several defense motions were rejected, Ostanin challenged the judges. They also rejected it.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that in June 2025, human rights activists recognized Artemy Ostanin as a political prisoner. Ostanin is charged with publicly inciting hatred or enmity "with the use or threat of violence," although his monologue about the legless beggar in the metro did not mention violence or threats. Without violence or threats of violence, Ostanin's actions should be classified as an administrative offense with a maximum penalty of 15 days in jail, the human rights activists noted, calling for an investigation into the comedian's allegations of torture and humiliation after his arrest.