Financial watchdog adds 4,000 names to extremist registry as Kremlin intensifies crackdown
Russia’s federal financial monitoring service, Rosfinmonitoring, expanded its registry of "terrorists and extremists" by a record 4,018 names in 2025. According to an investigation by the outlet Viorstka, this represents a 26% increase compared to the previous year.
The surge marks the highest growth in at least seven years. Most new entries—2,783 individuals—were registered under "terrorism" charges, while another 1,235 were labeled as "extremists."
Unprecedented focus on minors
The 2025 data reveals a disturbing trend regarding the youth. Authorities added 341 minors to the blacklist this year, doubling the 2024 figures and representing a sixfold increase compared to 2023.
In fact, the number of minors added in 2025 alone exceeds the total count from the previous six years combined. The youngest person designated as a "terrorist" turned 14 in September 2025, though the specific charges remain undisclosed.
Targeting occupied territories and dissent
The registry also saw a record influx from occupied Ukrainian regions, including Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk. A total of 288 individuals from these areas were added, a 54% jump from last year.
The expansion follows a June 2025 law allowing the inclusion of those accused of spreading military "fakes" or "discrediting" the army. Since then, the list has grown to include prominent bloggers, politicians, and journalists.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
