Court keeps blogger Ulyanov in remand prison over witness tampering risk

The Central District Court of Volgograd left blogger and public figure Alexei Ulyanov, accused of large-scale extortion, in a remand prison.

The hearing took place on January 30 in closed session. The preventive measure in the form of detention was extended until February 18, 2026.

As reported by the accused«s wife Elena Ulyanova, the decision was made despite a number of circumstances. She wrote:

The Central District Court, represented by Judge Peremyshlina, left Alexei Vladimirovich Ulyanov in custody until February 18, 2026, disregarding his health problems, the evident lack of medical assistance during his two months in custody (except for «Ketorol» and «Diclofenac»), his status as a father of many children, a volunteer, and a heap of certificates and positive characteristics. The investigation justified its position by stating that Ulyanov could influence witnesses and affect the course of the investigation if placed under house arrest.

Earlier, Alexei Ulyanov claimed that pressure was being exerted on him to obtain a confession. According to him, he was threatened with being sent to a colony, and his wife and their minor children to an orphanage.

Ulyanov was detained on December 2, 2025. The investigation believes that starting from 2020, he, as part of a group, demanded money from executives and citizens for not disseminating compromising information. The amounts demanded ranged from 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,053 at current rates) to 6 million rubles (about $63,200). During court hearings, it was clarified that the accused did not receive these funds, but only attempted to do so. When choosing a preventive measure, Ulyanov admitted that he accepted money for publications, including from a convicted grain trader, but denied the facts of extortion.