International manhunt for opera singer-turned-agent Maxakov-Igenbergs
Renowned Russian opera singer Maria Maksakova-Igenbergs was arrested in absentia by the Presnensky Court of Moscow in December 2024. The charges against her were made under Article 280.4 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to calls for extremist activities against the Russian Federation.
The case against Maksakova was initiated in September 2024, following activities documented in a specific YouTube video. The video is claimed to contain calls for funding the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Maksakova, who resides abroad, had previously fled Russia after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine. In May 2023, she was included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice for calling to provide weapons to Ukraine and urging the overthrow of the Russian government.
In 2023, Maksakova was fined twice for related offenses, amounting to a total of 170,000 rubles. Previously, she admitted to meeting with Kirill Budanov, the head of Ukraine's State Security Service, and requesting German and British Taurus and ATACMS missiles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The investigation claims that Maksakova's actions as a foreign agent were in violation of her duties. As a result, she faces potential imprisonment, with the charges carrying a maximum sentence of six years.
In addition to the criminal case, Maksakova was also fined multiple times for failing to include the mandatory labeling in her publications. Furthermore, a court recovered a tax debt from her in May of this year.
Maksakova remains on the international wanted list following her arrest in absentia. The ongoing developments in her case continue to garner attention in the global arts community.
[1] For more information on the tax debt recovery and violation of foreign agent legislation, please refer to additional sources.
- The general-news media outlets have been reporting on the ongoing court case of Maria Maksakova-Igenbergs, a Russian opera singer who was arrested in absentia, which includes charges of crime-and-justice under Article 280.4 of the Russian Criminal Code for allegedly making calls for extremist activities against the Russian Federation.
- The politics surrounding Maksakova's case have been a hot topic in the general-news, as she resides abroad after fleeing Russia and has been included in the register of foreign agents for her support of Ukraine, facing potential imprisonment for up to six years and various fines for related offenses and tax debt recovery.
