Novosibirsk Activist Who Documented Farmer Protests Arrested on Terrorism Charges

Aug. 13, 2026 Telegram Authorities in Siberia’s Novosibirsk region have arrested an activist who documented rare local farmer protests this year on charges of calling for terrorism online, her supporters said Thursday. Armed officers raided the home of Larisa Mikhailova, using power tools to cut through the activist’s front door before taking her into custody, her daughter said in a video published by the activist group Agrarian Council. Mikhailova is an activist with the Agrarian Council, which documented cattle culls in the Novosibirsk region mandated by the regional administration. Local farmers accused the authorities of secrecy and failing to adequately compensate them for their slaughtered livestock. Novosibirsk’s Tsentralny District Court later put Mikhailova in pre-trial detention for two months. “I believe this is payback for my mother’s active civic stance,” Mikhailova’s daughter said in the Agrarian Council video. Mikhailova’s hearing took place behind closed doors. Mikhailova’s allies believe the charge stems from online references to “The Internationale,” a 19th-century socialist anthem that served as the Soviet national anthem from 1922 until 1944. Russian authorities have previously used modified versions of the anthem to bring terrorism charges against political dissidents and opposition figures linked to Svetlana Lada-Rus, a prominent anti-government activist and occult healer who remains wanted by Russian authorities. Lada-Rus herself has not been seen in person since 2016, when she fled Russia while facing investigation on charges of large-scale fraud and causing grievous bodily harm through negligence, both of which she denies. Her exact whereabouts remain unknown and she no longer speaks to the press. Last November, a court in Samara sentenced Lada-Rus in absentia to eight years in prison. Read more about: Novosibirsk , Agriculture 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 Novosibirsk Lifts Quarantine That Triggered Mass Cattle Culls Around 90,000 cattle were culled across nine Russian regions, including Novosibirsk, between February and March. 1 Min read Novosibirsk Agriculture Minister Fired After Mass Cattle Culls Spark Farmer Protests The sacked minister became the target of national ridicule last month after a video showed him running away from a farm owner seeking an explanation for... 2 Min read Regions Calling: Siberian Farmers Abandon Livestock Standoff The Novosibirsk region has culled thousands of cows and other livestock, putting livelihoods at risk. Farmers in other regions worry they may be next. 4 Min read Regions Calling: In Russia, All Eyes Are on Siberia’s Farmers Small farmers across Siberia are fiercely defending their livestock in defiance of government orders to cull thousands of animals. 7 Min read