The Russian government isn’t laughing about stand-up comedian Denis Chuzhoi.
On Friday, Russia’s Ministry of Justice accused Mr. Chuzoi, 36, of being a foreign agent. He fled the country after President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
Mr. Chuzoi used to write for comedy shows on Russian television until the Kremlin launched the invasion, which it continues to call a “special military operation.”
The Russian Justice Ministry accused Mr. Chuzhoi of disseminating materials from foreign agents and criticizing the government. Also, they said he “participated in the creation of messages and materials” from organizations that were declared “undesirable,” officials said.
He left Russia after a barrage of death threats over his public opposition to the war in Ukraine. The Moscow Times newspaper said he later relocated to Germany where he received an artist visa.
Mr. Chuzoi has had success as a comedian while in exile. Translating his stand-up routines to English, he is now touring cities in Europe and the United States as part of a stand-up show called “Second Class Citizen,” the Moscow Times said.
Also on the list of Russians accused of being foreign agents are Dmitry Treschanin, editor of Mediazona, a Russia independent media outlet that takes a hard line against the Kremlin, and Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov, officials said.
According to Russian media reports, Mr. Treschanin spoke out against Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine and took part in the creation and dissemination of messages and materials from foreign agents to an unlimited number of people. Russian officials also noted that he lives outside the Russian Federation.