A criminal case has been opened against blogger Areg Shchepikhin, 39, following his kidnapping at the Yaroslavsky railway station in Moscow on June 3. He is accused of inciting hatred and extremism in his publications, according to the Investigative Committee.

Shchepikhin faces charges under Part 2 of Article 280 and paragraph “a” of Part 2 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. He could face up to six years in prison for inciting hatred, but lawyer Vadim Bagaturia suggests the total sentence could reach up to 10 years, considering multiple episodes. Additional charges are possible as law enforcement agencies investigate his potential involvement in other crimes.

Simultaneously, a criminal case has been opened regarding the kidnapping itself, with six people charged under Articles 126 and 286 of the Criminal Code, related to kidnapping and abuse of power. If the kidnapping is classified as being committed by an organized group, the perpetrators could face up to 15 years in prison. However, lawyer Bagaturia notes that they may be released from criminal liability if Shchepikhin was voluntarily released. Abuse of power carries a potential penalty of 10 years in prison.

The kidnapping, which some have termed a “detention,” was captured in a video that surfaced online. The footage shows three men forcibly grabbing Shchepikhin at a fast food outlet. Shchepikhin’s mother identified him in the video.

The incident has drawn public attention and official comments. Akhmed Dudaev, Minister of the Chechen Republic, characterized the event as a detention carried out by law enforcement officers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has also commented on the situation.