Pyotr verzilov biography

On 3 November 2023, a court in Moscow sentenced the ex-publisher of MediaZona, Petr Verzilov, to 8.5 years of prison in absentia on charges of disseminating “fake news” about the Russian army (Point D of article 207.3.3 of the Russian criminal code). The charges were formulated against Verzilov when he was still the publisher of the Russian independent media outlet, which focuses on abuse of power by courts and police. Verzilov joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and stepped down from his position at MediaZona in October this year.

The criminal case against the journalist was opened by Russia’s Investigative Committee in November 2022. It was opened for Verzilov’s social media posts on killings of civilians in Bucha near Kyiv, at the time when the area was occupied by Russian forces.

Russian authorities also informed at the time that they had put out an international arrest warrant for Verzilov and had placed him under arrest in absentia. Both him and editor-in-chief of MediaZona Ser

Ex-Pussy Riot Member Pyotr Verzilov Added to Russia’s List of ‘Terrorists and Extremists’

Russian Canadian activist Pyotr Verzilov has been added to Russia’s list of “terrorists and extremists” by the country’s state financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring, the Moscow Times reported last week.

Verzilov is a former member of the anti-Kremlin performance art group Pussy Riot and one of the founders of Mediazona, an independent Russian news agency focused on anti-Putinist opposition.

Earlier this year, he was sentenced to more than eight years in prison in absentia under Russia’s wartime censorship laws. He was accused of spreading misinformation about the Russian army.

Verzilov, 37, travelled to Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 to shoot a documentary – but he ended up joining the Ukrainian military.

He is also being investigated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for treason. Anyone officially branded a terrorist or extremist in the country can have their bank account fro

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Member of the Pussy Riot punk group Pyotr Verzilov (C) gestures as he walks with police during a court hearing at a courthouse in Moscow, on July 31, 2018

Pyotr Verzilov of the punk rock band Pussy Riot was rushed to the hospital late Tuesday, September 11, 2018. He was being treated in the toxicology wing of a Moscow hospital. Members of the band, known for being outspoken political activists in Russia, shared on social media that they believe Verzilov was poisoned.

Here’s what you need to know.


1. Doctors Reportedly Suspect Verzilov Was Poisoned With Some Kind of Neuro Medication

Verzilov’s mysterious symptoms reportedly began on September 11th. He told fellow Pussy Riot member Veronika Nikulshina, his reported girlfriend, that he was not feeling well and laid down to rest. The symptoms began hours after attending a court hearing for Nikulshina. According to the independent Russian news outlet Meduza, of which Verzilov is a publisher, Verzilov soon began struggling to see, speak or move.

Emergency responders came to the home to

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