Record Breaker: Russia‘s Terrorist and Extremist Registry Swells by Over 3,000 in 2024
In a striking turn of events, the list of terrorists and extremists compiled by Rosfinmonitoring concluded 2024 with a historic high, adding 3,152 individuals – a staggering 72% increase from the previous year’s record of 1,828. This surge marked the largest growth since tracking began, surpassing the former record of 393 people between 2020 and 2021.
As of 2024, 71% (2,232) of the listed individuals are categorized as ‘terrorists,’ with the remaining 920 designated as ‘extremists.’ This shift reflects a significant change from 2023, which saw 1,224 terrorists and 604 extremists added to the list. The previous year, 2022, saw 970 terrorists and 637 extremists added.
Notably, 161 minors joined the list in 2024, exceeding the combined total of 143 minors added over the five-year period from 2019 to 2023. This figure is 110 more than the number of minors added in 2023 and marks the most substantial increase since the jump from 28 minors in 2022 to 51 in 2023.
Among the youngest additions were four 14-year-olds, born in 2010, who were included as ‘extremists.’ The list notably includes two teenagers from St. Petersburg, Eгор Лаускис and his accomplice, who attempted to burn a relay cabinet at the ‘Lahhta’ station in September 2023. They were sentenced to real terms and added to the list in February 2024, with Лаускис being the youngest listee at the time of inclusion.
2024 also saw a record 187 Ukrainians from Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, and Lugansk regions join the registry – a substantial increase from the previous peak of 63 in 2023. Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the list has grown fivefold to include over 16,000 names, featuring prominent figures such as author Boris Akunin, chess champion Garry Kasparov, and academic Boris Kagarlitsky.
Consequences for listees include asset freezes and restrictions on property management, with a monthly earnings cap of 10,000 rubles. Employment opportunities can also be hindered, as many employers refuse to hire those on the list upon discovering their status.
In December 2024, the State Duma expanded the definition of ‘extremist activities’ to include offenses such as hooliganism, murder, and assault committed on political, national, racial, or religious grounds. Spreading ‘fake news’ about the military or ‘discrediting’ the Russian army can also now result in inclusion on the list.
