The editor-in-chief of the website 'Region.Expert', Vadim Shtepa, who advocates for federalization, was included in the list of 'terrorists and extremists' by Rosfinmonitoring, reported TASS. The list also includes Lithuanian politician Almanis Andrius and Tatar activist Rafis Kashapov.
Next to the names of Shtepa, Kashapov, and Andrius, there is a note that a case may be initiated against them under the 'terrorist' article. Shtepa, in a conversation with 'Mediazona'*, clarified that he does not know why he was included in the registry: 'This is news to me'.
In 2024, a protocol was drawn up against the journalist for participating in the activities of an 'undesirable' organization due to his speech at the press conference of the 'Forum of Free Peoples of Post-Russia'**. Shtepa left Russia ten years ago after threats from the head of Karelia, Alexander Khudilainen, who stated that the journalist 'will not have freedom'.
A case of 'justification of terrorism' on the internet was initiated against Tatar activist Rafis Kashapov in April last year due to an interview in which he called the drone attack on the special economic zone 'Alabuga' in Tatarstan 'correct'.
Andrius Almanis is the head of the Institute of Russian Regions, located in Lithuania. In June 2024, he participated in the 11th 'Forum of Free Peoples of Post-Russia', which the Supreme Court of Russia recognized as 'terrorist'.
In February 2025, Kashapov and Almanis were among the signatories of an appeal to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) asking to recognize Russia as an 'empire', and the national republics within it and ethnic minorities as 'objects of brutal colonial policy, completely losing their subjectivity'.
According to 'Verstka'*, in 2024, 3152 people were added to the list of 'terrorists and extremists' — a record at least since 2019. This is 72% more than in 2023, when 1828 people were included in the list.
* Recognized as 'foreign agents' in Russia.
** Recognized as an 'undesirable organization' in Russia.