Search
The Tverskoy District Court in Moscow has jailed investigative journalist Oleg Roldugin until 10 May, on charges relating to the unlawful use and transfer of personal data committed by a group of individuals (Part 3, Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by Mediazona.
Roldugin was detained on the morning of 9 April and then taken for questioning. His lawyer was not allowed to see him until the evening.
That same day, law enforcement officers searched the Moscow newsroom of Novaya Gazeta in connection with his case. Investigative actions inside the building lasted around 13 hours. Throughout this time, lawyers were not allowed into the newsroom.
Soon after, the Moscow branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that it was investigating a criminal case under the article on unlawful use of personal data.
“Police officers established that, in preparing informational articles and materials of a negative nature regarding citizens of Russia, information resources containing personal data were used <…> During 2025–2026, in private databases containing personal data, search requests were made for the personal data of citizens, which were then used to publish articles in Telegram channels,” the statement read.
The agency did not directly confirm that this concerned Roldugin. Later, this was confirmed by the media.
The details of the case against the journalist remain unknown. His defence lawyer, Marina Andreeva, told the court that neither she nor Roldugin understood whose personal data the investigation claims he unlawfully obtained.
14 April Novaya Gazeta journalist Oleg Roldugin was formally charged: he is accused of illegal access to computer information as part of a group (point “v,” part 3, article 272.1 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by Novaya Gazeta.
The headline was updated as new information became available
- Oleg Roldugin served as editor-in-chief of the Sobesednik newspaper in 2022–2024; previously, he headed the investigations unit. Among other things, the Sobesednik investigations unit reported that Dmitry Medvedev, via foundations, owns luxury real estate.
- In September 2024, Sobesednik was declared a “foreign agent.” After that, the newspaper ceased its work.
- In recent years, Roldugin has worked for Novaya Gazeta. In recent months, he has published investigations there on people close to Ramzan Kadyrov, real estate used by the former President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, and Rossotrudnichestvo’s spending on work with foreign bloggers, journalists, politicians and entrepreneurs.