Ex-Communist Party Lawmaker in Murmansk Accused of Passing Sensitive Information to Ukraine

Oct. 30, 2026 Gennady Stepakhno. Video grab A former regional lawmaker and head of the Murmansk chapter of Russia’s Communist Party is facing treason charges following his arrest earlier this month, Russian media reported Thursday, citing the FSB security service. Law enforcement officials arrested 76-year-old Gennady Stepakhno on Oct. 9, after which a judge ruled that he be placed in pre-trial detention for two months. The exact charges against him were not immediately made public. Stepakhno had served as a lawmaker in the Murmansk region’s legislative assembly since 2007 before losing his seat in elections last month. He also headed the Communist Party’s regional chapter between 2004 and 2021. In an FSB statement carried by the Interfax news agency, Stepakhno was accused of using his position in office to share sensitive government documents and details about “engineering facilities” with Ukrainian intelligence agencies. Under Russian law, treason carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for men. It was not immediately clear whether Stepakhno pleaded guilty. Local media outlets in Murmansk, citing anonymous sources close to the former lawmaker, reported that law enforcement officials may be investigating Stepakhno based on a phone call he made about the construction of an Indian pharmaceutical plant in Murmansk. According to those reports, he discussed sensitive information about the project with a relative who lives abroad. In a separate report, the exiled news outlet The Insider suggested that Stepakhno’s criminal prosecution may be connected to his alleged long-running feud with fellow Communist Party member Oleg Ryabtsev over questions of party finances. The Moscow Times could not independently verify either report. Stepakhno is the latest Communist Party member to face criminal prosecution following State Duma and regional elections late last month, during which the ruling United Russia party gained a supermajority in the lower house of Russian parliament. Read more about: Communist Party , Court cases , Treason , Murmansk , 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 Military Court Jails Altai Activist 5 Years for ‘Inciting Terrorism’ Aruna Arna rose to prominence last summer during protests against controversial municipal reforms in the republic of Altai. 1 Min read Regions Calling: Kremlin Clamps Down on Communists Ahead of State Duma Elections Communist Party members in the Altai region are under increasing pressure ahead of the State Duma elections. Experts say that's by design. 6 Min read Moscow Court Jails Ex-Foreign Ministry Employee for Passing Classified Information to U.S. Arseniy Konovalov was arrested in March 2024 on suspicion of providing classified information to American intelligence in exchange for money during his... 1 Min read Ryazan News Editor Accused of Extortion Released on House Arrest Alexei Frolov, who headed the Ryazan bureau of Novaya Gazeta until his arrest in January, was detained alongside two other local journalists. 1 Min read