Russian z-blogger escapes criminal prosecution by volunteering (again) to fight in Ukraine

Russia’s justice system has reportedly suspended criminal proceedings against pro-war blogger Yegor Guzenko, the author of the Telegram channel “Thirteenth,” following his enlistment with the military. Guzenko traded felony prosecution for an express ticket to the front lines in Ukraine as part of an assault unit.

Last month, police arrested Guzenko for assaulting an officer. Beforehand, he was wanted on charges of disorderly conduct for shooting a man with a mace gun (he claimed that he was defending a woman). Years earlier, Guzenko was placed under house arrest in connection with that case, but he escaped by volunteering to fight in Ukraine.

On Telegram, Guzenko’s channel has more than 280,000 subscribers. He regularly criticizes Russia’s Defense Ministry and accuses the Russian authorities of mismanaging the war in Ukraine.