# Russia sentences Astra founder to seven years in absentia

https://mins.news/en/item/83064

- Meduza, 2026-10-02 07:40 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/02/russia-sentences-founder-of-exile-news-outlet-astra-to-seven-years-in-absentia-her-lawyers-say-she-was-convicted-of-violating-foreign-agent-regulations-despite-never-being-designated-one

> Ulyanovsk’s Zavolzhsky District Court sentenced Anastasia Chumakova, founder and editor-in-chief of the exile outlet Astra, to seven years in prison in absentia. She was convicted over alleged “fake news” about the Russian army and alleged violations of “foreign agent” rules, despite her lawyers’ argument that she never held that status. The court also imposed a four-and-a-half-year online-platform ban and a 200,000-ruble fine.

## Related coverage

- [Court orders arrest in absentia of blogger Dud over interview with extremist leader](https://mins.news/en/item/78835) — TASS, 2026-09-29