Stand-up comedian Ostanin* sentenced to lengthy prison term for jokes

Artemy Ostanin was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months for monologues about a legless man and an imaginary dialogue with Jesus Christ. The comedian pleaded not guilty.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, yesterday, February 3, Yeysk comedian Artemy Ostanin, speaking at a Moscow court hearing, denied the charges and called the victims in the case "professional informers." However, he apologized to those who might have been offended by his performance. The prosecution had previously requested a 5-year, 11-month prison sentence for Ostanin (one month less than the maximum sentence for extremism) and a 300,000 ruble fine.

Judge Olesya Mendeleyeva of the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow found comedian Artemy Ostanin guilty of inciting hatred and insulting the feelings of believers for his performance of a monologue about a legless man on the subway and an imaginary dialogue with Jesus Christ. For all of his crimes, the comedian was sentenced to five years and nine months in a general regime penal colony, as well as a fine of 300,000 rubles, RBC reports.

"Ostanin, do you understand the sentence?" the judge asked after announcing it. "May your judicial practice be yours!" Mediazona quoted the comedian's response.** Mendeleyeva attempted to repeat Ostanin's sentence, but he interrupted, declaring his innocence. "So you understand," the judge concluded.

According to the prosecution, Artemy Ostanin, "having extensive knowledge in religious studies and wanting to increase the popularity and recognition of his channel," used "socially sensitive topics" related to religion in his performances. To "insult the religious feelings of believers," the comedian created an organized crime group consisting of "unidentified individuals." According to the indictment, they prepared the scripts for short performances, selected venues, organized concerts featuring Ostanin, and publicized them on social media. The prosecutor insisted that the organized crime group was characterized by "cohesion, stability, a high level of organization and planning," and its members had "long-standing, established relationships."

Elena Zubareva, Svetlana Kaveko, Vasily Gusko, and Tatyana Torbina were named as victims in the case. According to the indictment, they watched Ostanin's performance online, felt "humiliated and insulted," and filed complaints with law enforcement. Some of them became familiar with the comedian's work on social media, part of the Orthodox movement "Forty by Forty."

The comedian's lawyer, Mikhail Meshcheryakov, pointed out during the closing arguments that the joke about the man without legs was not distributed by Ostanin, but rather on other Telegram channels with which he had no connection. "Perhaps the victims in our case are deliberately searching the internet for materials that offend their feelings," Meshcheryakov said. He called the investigation's formulation of an organized criminal group engaged in inciting hatred or enmity "existing only in the investigator's mind" and necessary to increase the severity of the charges. The defense requested that the comedian be acquitted.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that in June 2025, human rights activists recognized Artemy Ostanin* as a political prisoner. Ostanin* is charged with publicly inciting hatred or hostility "with the use or threat of violence," even though his monologue about the legless beggar in the metro did not mention violence or threats. Without violence or threats of violence, Ostanin*'s actions should be classified as an administrative offense with a maximum penalty of 15 days in jail, human rights activists noted, calling for an investigation into the comedian's allegations of torture and humiliation after his arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has published a report titled "The Main Facts About the Beating and Arrest of Comedian Artemy Ostanin".

* added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of terrorists and extremists.

** added to the register of foreign agents.

*** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.