Russia Imprisons Comedian Artemy Ostani for War Joke

Artemy Ostanin sentenced to more than five years in a penal colony after joking about a ‘legless’ war veteran.

Russian comedian Artemy Ostanin has been sentenced to five years and nine months in a penal colony after joking about a disabled war veteran, which was deemed to incite hatred. His 2025 routine, which referred to a veteran as a “legless skater,” sparked outrage among nationalists. Ostanin was also convicted for a separate joke about Jesus, leading to a fine and placement on a government list of “terrorists and extremists.” Rights group Memorial condemned the case as an example of laws used to silence artistic expression in Russia.