Press Release, 22.04.2026

Photo: Maxim Kruglov in the courtroom / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow has begun hearing the criminal case against Yabloko Deputy Chairman Maxim Kruglov on the merits.

Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov, Federal Bureau member Andrei Morev, Moscow Yabloko Chairman Kirill Goncharov, and dozens of Kruglov’s colleagues, family members, friends, and students came to show their support for Maxim.

Before the hearing began, bailiffs escorted Maxim’s mother, Yelena Nikolayevna, out into the corridor — she is listed as a witness in the case and was therefore unable to remain in the courtroom until she had been questioned.

The prosecutor filed a motion to extend the remand of the Yabloko Deputy Chairman, stating that “the circumstances had not changed”, meaning the prosecution continued to maintain that Kruglov had both the intention and the means to abscond. This assertion is entirely without foundation, the defence countered.

Kruglov’s interests in court are represented by lawyers Natalia Tikhonova and Sergei Badamshin. In their submissions, the defence not only reiterated for the sixth time (the question of the preventive measure having already been considered on five previous occasions) their earlier arguments: that dozens of guarantees and positive character references had been provided on Kruglov’s behalf, that he had a successful political and academic career, a family and a young child, a permanent place of residence in Moscow, and no criminal record.

Sergei Badamshin stressed that the grounds for imposing a preventive measure had ceased to apply and had accordingly changed, given that the court was now hearing the case on the merits. There were likewise no grounds for extending the remand, the defence insisted.

Speaking in court, Maxim Kruglov largely repeated his statement of 30 March, emphasising that “grieving for the loss of human life is a normal human response and a Christian position”. He has returned to this point at each hearing because the charges against him relate to the publication of two “fake” posts that referred, among other things, to those killed in the course of military operations.

“The transformation of the political regime is moving in the direction of total repression, and I do not believe it is in the interests of either the Russian authorities or Russian society to sow such seeds of fear,” Maxim Kruglov said.

For approximately one hour, the court examined the case materials: the public prosecutor read out Kruglov’s personal details, while the judge read aloud his character references, guarantees, and letters of surety.

When the judge retired to deliver her ruling on the preventive measure, those in attendance were asked to leave the courtroom — the court’s working day had ended, bailiffs announced. The hearing then continued in the presence of the defence and prosecution only.

“The Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow has extended Maxim Kruglov’s period of detention by six months. As is customary, the arguments of the defence were disregarded. The hearing of the criminal case against him on the merits has begun, and the next session has been scheduled for 6 May 2026 at 14:30,” lawyer Natalia Tikhonova reported.

Maxim Kruglov has been deprived of his liberty since 1 October 2025 and has been held on remand since 2 October 2025, on charges of publicly disseminating “fake” information about the army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Yabloko maintains that these charges have no basis in fact and constitute part of a campaign of political pressure against independent voices.