Russia Adds Jailed 17-Year-Old Anti-War Activist To Its Terrorists Registry

Yegor Balazeikin

Russian authorities added 17-year-old anti-war activist Yegor Balazeikin to the country's list of terrorists and extremists on May 15. Balazeikin was sentenced to six years in prison in November for throwing Molotov cocktails at recruitment centers in Kirovsk and St. Petersburg in February 2023 in protest at Moscow's war in Ukraine. He said his actions were strongly influenced by the death of his uncle, who was killed after volunteering to fight in Ukraine. The prosecutor said Balazeikin could not “hide behind” his uncle’s death, but said the defendant's age, health, and his confession were considered in determining the sentence. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s North.Realities, click here.