Russia places economist Konstantin Sonin on federal wanted list

Konstantin Sonin, an economist and professor at the University of Chicago, was placed on Russia’s federal wanted list, according to Mediazona, which found this information in the Internal Affairs Ministry’s database.

In March, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under the statute on “fakes” about the Russian Army against Sonin. The committee didn’t specify the suspect involved, but Interfax reported that the case was specifically against Sonin, referencing “informed sources.” According to TASS and the Moskva news agency, the case was opened due to three of Sonin’s posts on Telegram.

Sonin suggested that the reason for the case were either his posts about the killings of civilians in Bucha or the destruction of the drama theater in Mariupol. “What I’m accused of is completely false. Of course I didn’t post any fakes. I only posted facts that are well-documented. It’s pointless to explain. The court will be a sham and the sentence will be passed,” he said.

Sonin served as vice-rector at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), scientific director of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, and was a member of Russia’s Ministry of Education and Science’s Science Council. Sonin was dismissed from HSE in the summer of 2022. He now lives in the U.S.