MOSCOW, Russia — Russian authorities have arrested Alexei Kostylev, founder and former editor-in-chief of the pro-Kremlin news outlet Readovka, on charges of fraud, according to RBC.
Kostylev was taken into custody on Wednesday, and investigators are requesting a two-month pre-trial detention. A court hearing is expected to take place on Friday, according to the Telegram channel Russian Life, where Kostylev currently serves as editor-in-chief.
Details about the alleged fraud remain limited, but anonymous police sources cited by TASS report that Kostylev is suspected of engaging in fraudulent activities involving at least 1 million rubles (approximately $13,000).
Kostylev founded Readovka in 2011 on the Russian social media platform VKontakte. The outlet later expanded into a full network of regional reporters and underwent a pro-government editorial shift around the time of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Its Telegram channel now has more than 2 million subscribers.
Readovka said it is cooperating with law enforcement and clarified that the criminal case against Kostylev is not related to the outlet’s journalistic activities. Investigative media previously reported that Readovka was acquired by Andrei Tkachenko, a Kremlin-linked figure.
Russian Life highlighted that Kostylev is disabled and recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in October 2024, urging authorities to allow him access to necessary medical care while in custody.
This arrest marks the latest legal action involving Russian media figures amid the country’s complex political and regulatory environment.
