St. Petersburg Philosophy Professor Detained Over $40 ‘Extremist’ Navalny Donations

Aug. 12, 2026 Igor Zaytsev. aquaviva.ru St. Petersburg police have detained a prominent philosophy professor for allegedly donating 3,500 rubles ($42) to groups affiliated with the late opposition activist Alexei Navalny. St. Petersburg police said it cooperated with the Federal Security Service (FSB) to detain a 58-year-old local resident as part of a criminal case into financing extremist activity that was opened on July 31. While the police withheld his name, several media outlets identified the man as Igor Zaytsev, 58, an associate professor and deputy dean of the faculty of philosophy and theology at the Dostoevsky Russian Christian Humanities Academy. In a video released by the police, law enforcement officers were heard asking Zaytsev about his electronic devices before carrying out extensive searches in his home. “I personally supported Alexei Navalny,” Zaytsev told the officers on camera. Zaytsev said he could not recall whether he continued supporting Navalny after the Supreme Court declared his network “extremist” in 2021, but acknowledged that he had signed up for monthly recurring donations prior to that ruling. Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024. Zaytsev faces up to eight years in prison if charged and found guilty of “financing extremist activity.” St. Petersburg news outlet Fontanka reported that the criminal case has not yet reached local courts and Zaytsev’s pre-trial terms have not yet been set Read more about: St. Petersburg , Repression , Navalny 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 Released St. Petersburg Street Musician Reportedly Flees Russia Authorities in St. Petersburg released street musicians Diana Loginova and Alexander Orlov after a month in custody, local outlet Fontanka reported Sunday... 1 Min read St. Petersburg Authorities Seize Instruments in Crackdown on Street Music The raid comes amid a wave of police actions against musicians and supporters of Stoptime. 1 Min read At Least 10 Arrested Around Russia as People Lay Flowers in Honor of Alexei Navalny’s Birthday Eight people, including a former city councilwoman and a journalist, were arrested after laying flowers at a monument to victims of political repression... 2 Min read Navalny Mourners Handed Military Summonses – Reports At least six mourners in St. Petersburg received military summonses after being released from police custody, according to local media. 1 Min read