Russian Court Hands Exiled YouTuber Michael Nacke Combined 14-Year Sentence

Oct. 13, 2026 Michael Nacke. Vladyslav Likhnyakevych (CC BY 2.0) A Moscow court has sentenced exiled journalist and YouTuber Michael Nacke to five years in prison in absentia on charges of calling for actions against Russia’s national security, bringing his combined sentence to 14 years. Nacke, 32, is a prominent critic of the Kremlin whose Russian-language YouTube channel covers Russia’s war against Ukraine. He was previously sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison in 2023 for spreading what authorities called “false information” about the Russian military. The latest conviction stems from a video Nacke published in 2024 that investigators said contained calls for activities “directed against state security,” the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office said. Moscow’s Basmanny District Court said the video was published on May 7, the exiled news outlet Mediazona reported. That day, Nacke uploaded a video titled “Now Putin Can Be Eliminated. The Day Putin Ceased to Be President.” The court partially combined the new sentence with his earlier prison term, ordering him to serve a total of 14 years in a general-security penal colony. It also barred him from administering websites for five years. Nacke worked at the Ekho Moskvy radio station from 2015 to 2020, hosting several programs on politics and public affairs. He moved to Georgia in June 2021 and later relocated to Lithuania. Russian authorities designated him a “foreign agent” in 2022 and have placed him on an international wanted list. His YouTube channel ranked second in journalist Dmitry Kolezev’s ranking of the largest Russian-language channels covering politics and public affairs in September 2026, drawing more than 80.4 million views. Only Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s channel received more views that month. Nacke’s channel has consistently placed among the ranking’s top three in recent months. This article was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and was reviewed by a Moscow Times editor before publication. Learn more about our newsroom's AI policy here. Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: Opposition , Court case 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 Russia Jails Exiled Politician Leonid Gozman 8.5 Years in Absentia for War Criticism A Moscow court found Gozman guilty of spreading “fake news” about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 1 Min read Moscow Court Upholds Prison Sentence of Dissident Oleg Orlov Speaking to journalists via video link to the court before the session, Orlov said: "I do not regret or repent anything.” 2 Min read Siberian Court Jails Veteran Activist for Attacking Police Officers Natalya Filonova, 61, was accused of attacking police while being detained at a rally against Russia’s “partial” military mobilization for the war... 2 Min read Russia Hands Student Protester Zhukov Suspended Sentence After Outcry Observers say Yegor Zhukov's verdict is a rare legal victory for those arrested following this summer's Moscow protests.