{
  "id": 328316,
  "title": "I Am Wanted by Russia. The Consequences Follow Me Everywhere.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/20/i-am-wanted-by-russia-the-consequences-follow-me-everywhere",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-07-20T12:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Moscow Times - Opinion",
    "slug": "the-moscow-times-opinion",
    "url": "https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/07/20/i-am-wanted-by-russia-the-consequences-follow-me-everywhere-a93289"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent job application in Britain asked if the applicant had unspent criminal convictions. The applicant responded \"yes,\" not knowing the form would reveal that a Russian court had sentenced them in absentia to eight years in a penal colony for spreading false information about the Russian armed forces. The applicant lives in Britain, far from Russia, but the conviction still impacts their life. It appears when applying for ordinary jobs and has to explain the criminal conviction to strangers. The applicant has also been denied entry into countries due to the Russian warrant, and their loved ones cannot visit them easily. The applicant works in human rights campaigning and is careful about accepting opportunities that involve travel due to the security risks. The applicant feels that Russia can take away their freedom to travel, work, and spend time with loved ones. Despite living in Britain, the applicant is aware that Russia can still affect their life and has to consider the country's relationship with Russia before any trip. Russia's actions, such as designating The Moscow Times as an undesirable organization and criminalizing its work, pose a threat to independent journalism and the applicant's ability to speak out.",
  "summary": "Being convicted in absentia brings the most frightening part of your life into ordinary situations that should have nothing to do with politics.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}