MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - The Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case against former State Duma member Ilya Ponomaryov (designated as a foreign agent) on counts of violent seizure of power and organization of a terrorist network, the FSB public relations center said on Wednesday.
"The investigative department of the Russian Federal Security Service has opened a criminal case against former member of the Russian Federal Assembly's State Duma Ilya Ponomaryov and unidentified persons under Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code (violent seizure of power or violent retention of power) and Parts 1 and 2 Article 205.4 of the Russian Criminal Code (organization and involvement in a terrorist network)," the FSB said.
"Seeking violent seizure of power in Russia, Ponomaryov established collaboration with a Ukrainian paramilitary unit (listed as a terrorist organization)," it said.
Another ground for opening the criminal case is information about the establishment of a political movement, Congress of People's Deputies (designated by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office as an organization undesirable in Russia in April 2023) in Poland in November 2022 and organization of its work by Ponomaryov.
"The goal of the movement established abroad is violent seizure of power and change of the constitutional system in the Russian Federation. For instance, Ponomaryov held seven sessions with over 60 delegates among former Russian parliament members of various levels in 2022-2024. They drafted and adopted over 30 anti-constitutional legislative acts, such as the constitution of 'a new Russia', 'On the Transitional Parliament', 'On the Resistance Movement' and so on," the FSB said.
The Congress of People's Deputies "is presented by Ponomaryov to Western states as 'a new Russian government in exile'," the FSB said.
"They are working on the recognition of the Congress of People's Deputies by countries of the Ramstein format [supporting Ukraine in the special military operation]," the FSB said.
Investigative procedures against Ponomaryov and his accomplices are underway, the FSB said. "These defendants and others engaged in their activity will be brought to justice consistent with the Russian Criminal Code," it said.
Last September, a military court in Moscow sentenced Ponomaryov in absentia to ten years in a penitentiary for spreading knowingly false information about actions of the Russian Armed Forces and justifying terrorism.
The Moscow City Prosecutor's Office said then that it was "established that, while outside of the Russian Federation and motivated by political hatred, Ponomaryov took part in broadcasts on the [YouTube] video hosting platform available to an unlimited number of viewers from March 5 to 17, 2022, where he publicly voiced knowingly false information on the use of the Russian Armed Forces and justified terrorist activities."
As reported, Russia is also investigating a case against Ponomaryov on counts of high treason, affiliation with the Freedom of Russia Legion, which is officially designated as a terrorist organization in Russia, and calls for activities damaging Russia's security.
Ponomaryov left Russia in 2014, after a criminal investigation on a count of embezzlement had been opened against him. He obtained Ukrainian citizenship in 2019.
Russia has designated Ponomaryov as a foreign agent, declared him wanted, and issued an arrest warrant for him.