Russia cancels internal passports of founders of Omsk opposition media project
Activists attribute the cancellation of their passports to recent inquiries made at a Russian embassy abroad. Daniil Chebykin and Richard King have lost access to their Russian phone numbers, banking applications, and other services.
"It is impossible to change your passport or contest the Ministry's decision while abroad. An embassy employee advised Daniil Chebykin to obtain a return certificate and 'resolve his issues back home'," stated the Association.
On June 5, the Omsk media project was deemed an extremist organization due to alleged threats of "forcibly changing the constitutional order in Russia" and "continuing the activities of oppositionist Navalny."
In July 2023, the Omsk Civic Association was included in the registry of foreign agents. The project's creators, Daniil Chebykin, Richard King, and Nikolai Rodkin, have been fined repeatedly for failing to fulfill the obligations of foreign agents.