On 18 January 2024, police searched the home of of historian and journalist Vyacheslav Yashchenko, as reported by regional outlet Caucasian Knot, which Yashchenko works for. Security forces reportedly seized a laptop and other electronic devices, explaining that the search was being carried out as part of an investigation into activist Yevgeny Kochegin, who was accused of spreading “fake news” about the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine.
According to Yashchenko, he currently has the status of a witness in the case. Additionally, he said that the search was carried out without a court decision.
According to the search warrant, Yashchenko allegedly had information about Kochegin’s whereabouts, which was the stated reason of the search, with investigators also claiming that the two men could have exchanged messages containing evidence of offences.
Kochegin is the former coordinator of the headquarters of the Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny in Volgograd and the leader of the regional anti-war movement Dozor. On September 15, he was included in Russia’s register of “foreign agents” .
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, members of the Dozor movement held protests, and a criminal case was opened against Kochegin for allegedly disseminating “fake news” about the war. The activist left Russia in May 2022. He was later arrested in absentia and put on Russia’s wanted list.