Ilia Ponomarev

Ilia Ponomarev was a State Duma member from 2007 to 2016. He was elected to the Duma of the 5th convocation representing the CPRF (The Communist Party of the Russian Federation) and to the Duma of the 6th convocation representing "A Just Russia". In 2011-2012, he took an active part in the protests against the rigged elections and the rule of Vladimir Putin. In 2013, he left "A Just Russia." In 2014, he was the only parliament member who voted against the annexation of Crimea.

In 2015, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Ponomarev for complicity in embezzlement (Part 4, Article 160 of the Criminal Code considering Part 5, Article 33 of the Criminal Code). According to the investigators, he signed a $750,000 contract with the Skolkovo Foundation pledging to conduct research work and give lectures. Ponomarev received the money by preparing, as the Investigative Committee wrote, "under the guise of research work, two reports that had absolutely no scientific value and did not meet the requirements of the terms of reference," and instead of lectures, he gave "short blitz presentations of 3 to 18 minutes, and at events unrelated to the stated theme ["Commercialization of New Technologies" - OVD-Info]." In 2015, Ponomarev was stripped of his parliamentary immunity and arrested in absentia.

Now Ilia Ponomarev lives in Ukraine. In 2019, then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko granted him Ukrainian citizenship. In April, Ponomarev founded the TV channel "February Morning," dedicated to the war between Russia and Ukraine. On August 22, 2022, Ponomarev claimed that a certain National Republican Army had claimed responsibility for the murder of publicist Daria Dugina, which had taken place in the Moscow region a couple of days before.

He was soon arrested in absentia for spreading knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces. Later this case was merged with the case of public justification of terrorism. In September 2022, a criminal case was opened against Ponomarev, which, according to information as of February 2025, includes a number of articles: high treason, participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to terrorism and activities against the security of the Russian Federation, forming a terrorist community and seizure of power. On October 21, 2022, Ponomarev was added to the register of foreign agents.

In September 2023, it was reported that a case was opened against Ponomarev for the activities of an "undesirable organisation". Apparently, this refers to the organisation Kongres Deputowanych Ludowych (Congress of People's Deputies), registered in Poland, as Ponomarev is one of its leaders.

On September 11, 2024, Ponomarev was sentenced in absentia to 10 years' imprisonment for "fakes" and public justification of terrorism.

In June 2025, it became known that another case of public justification of terrorism was brought against Ponomarev because of statements in support of the "Russian Volunteer Corps". Apparently, this case was merged with the case of evasion of duties of a "foreign agent".

Ponomarev was also accused of calls for mass disorder, inciting hatred and financing extremist activities in connection with the riots at Makhachkala airport in 2023 (we cannot say with certainty that there was a political motive in this case). In July 2025, the case went to trial. On December 5, the court sentenced Ponomarev to 6 years and 1 month in a general regime penal colony - in combination with the punishment under the first sentence, he was given a 12-year term in a general regime penal colony.