Telegram channel of the Vid Sboku online media, 25.05.2026

Photo: Konstantin Smirnov / Photo by Vid Sboku

As evidence of the guilt of Konstantin Smirnov, the [Ryazan Yabloko leader and] editor-in-chief of the online media Vid Sboku, on charges of extortion, public prosecutor Artyom Lyubimov cited in court [on 7 May 2026] receipts for the purchase of an oven costing approximately 30,000 roubles, a hob for 23,000 roubles, and chairs, also around 20,000 roubles. The public prosecutor offered no explanation of what exactly these receipts were intended to prove.

Konstantin Smirnov himself provided the explanation: when it became clear that he would not admit guilt and that some evidence would be needed in the case, a further search was conducted at his home.

“They simply gathered up all the crumpled receipts from my home. After the fact, they drew up a report: whatever had been purchased had been purchased with money from the extortion. That’s it. No further explanation. It came to 75,000 roubles: an oven, a hob, and some chairs,” Smirnov said. Since the sum attributed to him is 300,000 roubles, he suggested that the prosecutor take a look at his expenditure at the budget supermarket chain Pyatyorochka to account for the missing amount somehow — to “cover the remainder.”

Smirnov recounted that the report on “the oven acquired through criminal means” had also included the glazing of a balcony, though this particular “piece of evidence” was apparently dropped when it was conceded that the payment had been made before the alleged “extortion” took place.

Konstantin Smirnov had previously stated that an examination commissioned by the investigation had found no threats to the alleged victim in his words, that is, no extortion as such, and declared that there was no other evidence in the case.

Konstantin Smirnov has been held in a remand prison since January 2025, in connection with a case of alleged “extortion” targeting Alexei Rogotovsky, acting director general of the capital repairs fund. Smirnov does not admit guilt. He was arrested at a time when his opposition to the liquidation of rural settlements in the Ryazan district — where he served as an opposition Yabloko deputy — had gained massive public support and the government’s reform targeted at liquidation of local self-governing was under threat of collapse.