Russia’s FSB jailed Konstantin Kochanov and promised him treason charges. Then investigators made a crucial paperwork error.

Meduza

Lean Left

High Factuality

Russia’s FSB jailed Konstantin Kochanov and promised him treason charges. Then investigators made a crucial paperwork error.

In 2023, on the eve of Russia’s patriotic Victory Day celebration, red Xs began appearing on streets in Moscow. Rumors that their purpose was to help attackers aim missiles at the city started spreading on Telegram almost immediately. The following day, a 25-year-old electrician named Konstantin Kochanov was arrested for drawing the marks. He’d been instructed to do so by an anonymous Telegram account that contacted him after he reached out to Uk