Yeysk Comedian Gets Nearly 6 Years Over Religious Insult

Stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin from Yeysk (Krasnodar Krai, Russia) was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in a general-regime colony. The man was convicted under Part 1 of Article 148 of the Russian Criminal Code (public insult of religious feelings) and Paragraph «c» of Part 2 of Article 282 (incitement to hatred or enmity, humiliation of human dignity).

This sentence was announced at the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow on February 4, reports RIA Novosti. Additionally, Ostanin was fined 300,000 rubles (approximately 3,300 USD at current exchange rates) and banned from administering websites for three years.

According to investigators, Ostanin performed at an establishment in Moscow last year. The comedian had a routine that «contained statements insulting the feelings of believers.» Also, on March 15, 2025, he went on stage with a routine in which he told how a legless man on a skateboard, who, according to him, «stepped on a landmine,» ran into him in the subway.

Recall, the comedian was detained at the border with Belarus in March 2025. Later, Ostanin was added to the list of terrorists and extremists. At one of the previous court hearings, the prosecution alleged that the comedian had created an organized criminal group that helped him upload videos online. Group members prepared texts, filmed performances, and published them. Ostanin did not admit his guilt.

*Artemy Ostanin was added to the list of terrorists and extremists. This became known on June 4, 2025.