The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow has detained the founder and former editor-in-chief of Readovka, Alexey Kostylev, until April 25, 2026, according to the press service of the Moscow City Courts of General Jurisdiction. The investigation suspects him of stealing 1 billion rubles from the Ministry of Defense in the execution of state contracts for the supply of drones. Another person is involved in the case, whose name is not disclosed, notes the Zvezda TV channel.
Kostylev signed a state contract for several billion, for the supply.
The journalist's defense requested house arrest for him. Kostylev himself, speaking in court, referred to his poor health and stated that one of his eyes does not see, the second sees only 50%, and also complained of problems with coordination and traumatic brain injuries after an accident in October. If found guilty under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud on an especially large scale), he faces up to 10 years of imprisonment.
Kostylev was detained on February 25. Readovka was founded by him in 2014 as a Smolensk publication, but later grew into a federal media holding with the Telegram channel of the same name. In 2020, the editorial office moved to Moscow, and in August 2025, Kostylev announced his withdrawal from the founders and owners of the publication.
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