Moscow court hands stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin 5 years and 9 months in prison over two jokes

February 4, 2026

TL;DR

Artemy Ostanin, a stand-up comedian, was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison by Moscow's Meshchansky District Court.
He was found guilty of "inciting hatred" and "offending the feelings of believers" for jokes made during a performance.
The case was initiated by activists from "Zov Naroda" and informant Vitaly Borodin, who claimed one joke demeaned a soldier.
Ostanin alleges he was tortured after being detained in Belarus, suffering a fractured spine and damaged lungs.
A second joke about Jesus Christ's prayer before crucifixion also led to charges of "offending the feelings of believers."
In his final statement, Ostanin proclaimed his innocence and described the personal tragedies he endured, including the death of his grandmother following his arrest.

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