PRESS RELEASE
Source: Inna Kurochkina’s FB
Subject: The Russian regime has unleashed a campaign of total persecution against independent journalist Inna Kurochkina (Inna Pugacheva), a Georgian-born Ukrainian who has lived in the Czech Republic since 2010. Based on accusations of “terrorism,” she faces life imprisonment.
Her family has also been subjected to repression.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic — The Russian Federation has unleashed a large-scale transnational persecution of the well-known independent journalist, documentary filmmaker, and coordinator of the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum, Inna Kurochkina.
The combination of media influence (the “I NEWS” analytical project has more than 50 million views) and the official political status as a special representative of the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile, Akhmed Zakayev, has made her a priority target for the Russian secret services.
Prior to the escalation of the persecution, four propaganda films were broadcast on the main state television channels of the Russian Federation, accusing supporters of Ichkeria’s independence abroad of “terrorism.” This effectively served as ideological preparation for the use of repressive mechanisms against Kurochkina.
Criminal Prosecution, Arrest in Absentia, and International Search
By decision of the Basmanny District Court of Moscow, Inna Kurochkina was placed in custody in absentia.
On June 11, 2025, the Moscow City Court, in appeal proceedings (Case No. 10-11974/2025), confirmed the legality of this decision.
The journalist was officially placed on international and interstate wanted lists by the Russian authorities.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation charges Inna Kurochkina with committing three particularly serious “anti-state” crimes, which carry a penalty of up to life imprisonment:
Art. 205.2, Para. 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — Public calls for terrorist activities, justification, or promotion of terrorism via the Internet (direct criminalization of her journalistic and documentary work on the “I NEWS” platform).
Art. 205.4, Para. 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — Establishment and leadership of a terrorist community (criminalization of her political and coordination activities within the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum).
Art. 205.5, Para. 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — Organizing the activities of a structure designated as terrorist in the Russian Federation (political persecution for official representation of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, whose temporary occupation by the Russian Federation was officially recognized by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in its resolution of October 18, 2022).
Simultaneously, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring) included Inna Kurochkina on the national list of active terrorists and extremists under number 11152, and the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation entered the “I NEWS” project into the register of “foreign agents” (entry No. 1087 dated October 3, 2025), effectively subjecting the journalist abroad to a total legal and consular blockade.
Repression Against Family Members
Politically motivated persecution by the Kremlin is total in nature and aimed at destroying the entire circle of people around the journalist. The court decision against her husband serves as evidence of the systematic nature of the repressions.
On June 23, 2026, the Dzerzhinsky District Court of St. Petersburg issued a court ruling (Case No. 5-248/2026) regarding the journalist’s husband, Andrey Kurochkin. The court found him guilty under Art. 19.34, Para. 1 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses (violation of legislation on “foreign agents”), explicitly identifying him in court materials as the head of the “I NEWS” project.
International Reaction
In connection with the direct threat to Inna Kurochkina’s safety from the Russian secret services, leading European politicians and public figures have already expressed official support for her applications for international protection.
These include:
- Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine,
- Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament,
- Ivan Scalfarotto, Senator of the Italian Republic,
- Anna Fotyga, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland,
- Benedetto Della Vedova, Member of the Italian Parliament and former Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
- Nino Nakashidze, former Ambassador of Georgia to the Czech Republic,
- Valeriy Lobach, former Consul of Ukraine to the Czech Republic,
- Igor Boni, President of the Italian party Europa Radicale,
- Silvia Manzi, human rights activist,
- Jefim Fištejn, Czech publicist,
- war correspondent Petra Procházková.
