# Sources say prosecution of popular Russian Communist was planned before election defeat

https://mins.news/en/item/113230

- Meduza, 2026-10-23 18:40 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/23/meduza-s-sources-say-prosecution-of-popular-russian-communist-was-planned-before-his-election-defeat

> A Moscow court ordered former State Duma deputy and Communist Party of Russia’s Komi branch chief Oleg Mikhailov held in pretrial detention. He is charged with justifying terrorism over a post supporting imprisoned political scientist Boris Kagarlitsky and could face up to seven years. Meduza reports that authorities planned the case before Mikhailov lost his 2026 reelection bid; the FSB had been examining his social media since 2024.