Communist Party Leader in Komi Republic Arrested for ‘Justifying Terrorism’

Oct. 22, 2026 Oleg Mikhailov. VK Russian law enforcement authorities have arrested former State Duma lawmaker from the Communist Party Oleg Mikhailov on charges of publicly justifying terrorism, his regional party team said Wednesday. Mikhailov has headed the Communist Party branch in the northern republic of Komi since 2014 and served as a State Duma member between 2021 and September 2026. In last month’s parliamentary elections, he lost his seat to a rival from the ruling United Russia party. Komi’s Communist Party branch said in a social media post that Mikhailov was arrested at a Moscow airport after returning from a vacation. The charge against Mikhailov of publicly justifying terrorism stems from old social media posts in which he allegedly supported jailed sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky and leftist activist Sergei Udaltsov. “We believe the charges are revenge by Goldshtein and United Russia,” the party wrote on the VKontakte social media platform, referring to the regional head of Komi, Rostislav Goldshtein. A court hearing where a judge will decide whether to place Mikhailov in pre-trial detention is scheduled for Thursday. He could face up to seven years in prison if found guilty. Mikhailov’s arrest follows the August detention of Communist Party firebrand Nikolai Bondarenko in the southern Saratov region on “extremism” charges over an old social media post featuring a photo of the late opposition activist Alexei Navalny. Read more about: Communist Party , Komi , Regions 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 Woman Injured in Komi Police Training Center Explosion Dies at Hospital Two dozen people were injured at the training center in Komi’s capital of Syktyvkar on Thursday after a police instructor detonated a stun grenade during... 1 Min read Blast at Russian Police Training Center Injures 20 in Republic of Komi All those injured were cadets at the center, Komi's Interior Ministry said. 2 Min read Stalin Bust Beheaded With Sledgehammer in Russian Park The suspect also damaged a bust of Vladimir Lenin before immediately fleeing the scene of the crime, local media reported. 2 Min read Feature Northern Flight: The Teenage Komi-Karelian Activist Who Escaped the FSB Nikita Goldin, a young advocate for the Komi and Karelian communities, was detained and interrogated for 10 hours. It was then that he knew he had to... 4 Min read