Extortionists and Smolov may face imprisonment as per legal proceedings.
In the ongoing saga of Fedor Smolov's legal troubles, new developments have emerged that could potentially escalate his situation. The former Russian national team striker has been in the spotlight since a brawl at the "Coffeemania" cafe in Moscow on May 28, 2025 [3].
Initially, it was reported that Smolov had managed to avoid criminal liability for the cafe incident [3]. However, recent revelations suggest that the online release and monetization of the video footage from the brawl could complicate matters.
According to Alexander Haminskiy, the head of the Center for Law and Order in Moscow and the Moscow region, the men who were extorting money from Smolov could face charges under Article 163 (extortion) and Article 294 Part 2 (obstructing a criminal investigation) of the Russian Criminal Code. If convicted, they could face a prison sentence of up to 7 years and a fine of up to 500,000 rubles, or approximately £50,000.
For Smolov, the online video and monetization attempts could potentially expose him to new legal risks. If he attempted to buy the video that was being extorted, he could be convicted under Article 294 Part 2, which carries a potential jail term of up to 6 months. Moreover, the attempts to monetize the video could lead to additional charges, potentially aggravating Smolov's legal predicament.
Smolov also faces charges of battery or intentional infliction of bodily harm, which carry a potential prison sentence of up to 5 years. As of now, there are no potential charges pending against Smolov under Russian law for the brawl at "Coffeemania."
These new developments increase legal risks for both the blackmailers and Smolov, potentially intensifying the legal consequences for both parties. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how these developments will unfold and what the final outcome will be for Fedor Smolov.
The emergence of new developments suggests that the online release and monetization of the video footage from the cafe brawl could lead to additional charges for Fedor Smolov under Article 294 Part 2 and potentially aggravate his legal predicament. Meanwhile, the blackmailers could face charges under Article 163 (extortion) and Article 294 Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code if found guilty, potentially leading to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and a fine.
