Moscow Police Arrest Political Expert Alexander Kynev on Drug Charges

Sep. 25, 2026 Alexander Kynev. @alexander_kynev / Telegram Political consultant and elections expert Alexander Kynev has been arrested in Moscow on drug charges, the exiled news outlet Mediazona reported Friday. Kynev, a former political science professor at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, was charged with “large-scale illegal drug production, sale and trafficking,” his lawyer told Mediazona. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The circumstances surrounding Kynev’s arrest were not immediately known. Law enforcement officials have not commented on Mediazona’s report. Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Kynev a “foreign agent” in February. Despite his public criticism of the government over the years, he chose to remain in Moscow amid growing political repression since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kynev, who wrote regular opinion columns for The Moscow Times before it was designated an “undesirable” organization in 2024, has worked as a political consultant since the 1990s, when he first worked on campaigns for the liberal Yabloko party. Over the years, he has worked for a number of independent political organizations, including the now-disbanded election observer Golos. Read more about: Court cases , Drugs , Moscow 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 Moscow Court Jails Walt Disney Manager 2.5 Years on Drug Charges Customs officers detained Jugal Daterao in January during a routine baggage inspection after discovering THC-infused gummy candies in his luggage. 1 Min read Moscow Woman Jailed 3 Years for Easter Cake Hookah Video Ksenia Belousova achieved viral fame in April for an Instagram video showing a hookah with a bowl shaped like a kulich, a traditional Russian Easter pastry... 1 Min read Uzbek Man Who Assassinated Russian General in December 2024 Gets Life in Prison Igor Kirillov is the highest-ranking Russian general to have been assassinated since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 2 Min read Moscow Military Court Jails 2 Men for Trying to Kill Former Ukrainian Agent With Car Bomb Vasily Prozorov, a former employee of Ukraine’s SBU security service, was injured in April 2024 after an explosive device placed under his SUV in Moscow... 2 Min read