Chief Editor of Independent Belgorod News Outlet Charged With ‘Justifying Terrorism’

Oct. 26, 2026 Nikita Parmenov. Social media The editor-in-chief of Pepel, an online outlet covering news in the southwestern Belgorod region, has reportedly been charged by Russia’s FSB security service with publicly justifying terrorism. Fonar, another regional news outlet, said Nikita Parmenov stands accused of making statements in support of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a far-right paramilitary group composed of Russians fighting alongside the Ukrainian army. It was not immediately clear what statements specifically the FSB was referring to, Fonar reported. The criminal charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Pepel suggested that the accusations of justifying terrorism could stem from a YouTube interview in which Parmenov said he was unable to condemn Russians who take up arms to help Ukraine defend itself from invading Russian forces. Though Parmenov explicitly condemned cross-border shelling that targets civilians in the Belgorod region, Pepel claimed pro-war Telegram channels edited that part out of his interview and circulated it online. The FSB’s statement, cited by yet another regional news outlet, Belpressa, claimed Parmenov is currently living in exile outside Russia, somewhere in the South Caucasus. Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Parmenov a “foreign agent” in February 2025. Parmenov founded Pepel in the fall of 2022, months after President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Journalists , Belgorod , FSB Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist on Suspicion of Spying The FSB claimed that the journalist had been gathering information on Russia's defense capabilities. 3 Min read Russia Labels Ukrainian Meme ‘Terrorist Organization’ The “Belgorod People’s Republic” parodies the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics in eastern Ukraine. 2 Min read Russia Charges Australian, Romanian Journalists Over Reporting From Kursk Despite being identified as U.S. citizens by the FSB, the charged ABC reporters Kathryn Diss and Fletcher Yeung are Australian nationals. 1 Min read Russia Charges CNN Journalist Over Report From Sudzha Nick Paton Walsh was charged with “illegally crossing the state border of Russia” after he traveled to the Ukrainian-held town. 1 Min read