Russian political scientist and election analyst Alexander Kynev arrested in Moscow on drug charges

Moscow’s Perovsky District Court issued an arrest warrant for political scientist Alexander Kynev on September 25, according to independent news outlet Mediazona, citing court documents and defense attorney Mikhail Biryukov. Kynev faces charges of large-scale production, sale, or shipping of illegal drugs, which can result in a 10 to 20 year prison sentence.

The specifics of the case have not been disclosed, nor is the date of Kynev’s detention known. Kynev, who continued to post on his Telegram channel about election results up until September 23, is a political scientist who specializes in analyzing the power structures in Russia’s regions and electoral outcomes at both regional and federal levels. In February, Russian authorities classified Kynev as a foreign agent.