Creator of 'Masanya' living in Israel sentenced in absentia to 4 years in prison in Russia

A district court in St. Petersburg sentenced in absentia Oleg Kuvaev, the creator of the animated series 'Masanya' who lives in Israel, to 4 years and 1 month in a penal colony. He was accused of failing to fulfill the duties of a 'foreign agent' and making online calls against Russia's security. The basis for the incitement case was the 169th episode of 'Masanya', in which the protagonist suggests that Russian soldiers surrender. The case under the 'foreign agent' article was opened after Kuvaev failed to submit a report to the Russian Ministry of Justice three times. For the first two violations, he was fined 30,000 rubles, and in the spring of 2026, a criminal case was opened. The prosecution requested 5 years and 11 months in prison for the artist. Oleg Kuvaev has lived in Israel since 2006, where he moved due to family circumstances. After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he released several sharply anti-war episodes of 'Masanya'. In March 2022, Roskomnadzor blocked the website of the animated series. In October 2023, a criminal case was opened against Kuvaev in Russia under the article on 'public actions aimed against state security'.