Prosecutors Seek 8-Year Prison Sentence for Culinary Historian Pavel Syutkin

Sep. 9, 2026 Pavel Syutkin in court. @zapravarf / Telegram State prosecutors in Moscow have asked a judge to sentence culinary historian and former columnist for The Moscow Times, Pavel Syutkin, to eight years in prison for spreading “false information” about the Russian military, the civil rights group For Human Rights said Wednesday. Syutkin was arrested last October over Telegram posts about alleged atrocities committed against civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha during the opening weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russia continues to deny committing war crimes in Bucha, alleging the visual evidence was staged by Ukraine. That claim has been repeatedly debunked by independent fact-checking organizations. Closing arguments in Syutkin’s trial were heard behind closed doors at the Zyuzinsky District Court, according to exiled news outlet Mediazona. A verdict is expected next Tuesday. Syutkin maintains his innocence. “My case is clearly political,” he wrote in April. “There’s really nothing to prove in cases like this. You get punished for what you say and for openly opposing the war.” Syutkin has published several books on the history of Russian and Soviet cuisine and hosted programs on national television and radio devoted to the history of food. In 2015, Syutkin represented Russia as an official ambassador at the World Expo in Milan. Syutkin and his wife wrote a weekly cooking column for The Moscow Times until Russian authorities banned the news outlet as “undesirable” in July 2024. Read more about: Court cases 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 Finds Man Accused of Organizing LGBTQ+ Tours Guilty 1 Year After Suicide in Police Custody State investigators had said that Andrei Kotov, who ran the Men Travel agency, died by suicide in late December 2024. 2 Min read St. Petersburg Street Musicians Detained for Third Time Alexander Orlov and Diana Loginova had just finished back-to-back 13-day administrative arrests for organizing an unsanctioned gathering. 1 Min read Chelyabinsk Court Orders Billionaire Strukov to Pay $50M Over Mining Accident Konstantin Strukov’s former company, the gold producer Yuzhuralzoloto, was accused of systemic violations that led to an April 2024 dam collapse, which... 2 Min read Urals Businessman Arrested as Prosecutors Move to Seize Utility Companies Police reportedly arrested Urals businessman Alexei Bobrov in Moscow and transferred him to the city of Yekaterinburg for questioning. 1 Min read