Russia Places Exiled Analysts and Philanthropists Schulmann and Zimin on Terrorist List

On Thursday, Russia’s financial regulatory agency, Rosfinmonitoring, added exiled political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann and philanthropist Boris Zimin to its list of individuals identified as “terrorists and extremists.”

This classification allows the government to freeze their bank accounts and restrict access to financial services without requiring a judicial order. The “terrorists and extremists” list maintained by Rosfinmonitoring now includes over 17,800 individuals and more than 800 organizations.

Schulmann, well-known for her insights on parliamentary issues, relocated to Germany in early 2022 to continue her academic pursuits just after Russia initiated its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. She currently holds a position as a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, which was classified as an “undesirable organization” in 2024.

Earlier this year, Russian law enforcement issued an arrest warrant for Schulmann, and in July, a Moscow court ordered her to be placed in pre-trial detention in absentia.

In 2022, Schulmann was labeled a “foreign agent” and subsequently fined 50,000 rubles (approximately $600) the following year for allegedly failing to display the “foreign agent” label during her public appearances and statements, a charge she contests.

Boris Zimin is the son of the late Dmitry Zimin, a telecommunications pioneer who established Russia’s first mobile service and later devoted a significant portion of his wealth to charitable initiatives.

Following in his father’s legacy, Boris Zimin has actively supported independent media, scientific research, education, and political opposition efforts in Russia. Approximately ten years ago, Russian authorities classified his foundation as a “foreign agent,” and later extended this designation to Zimin himself.

In April, a Moscow court sentenced him in absentia to nine years in prison on fraud charges related to the sale of shares in the Russian car-sharing service, BelkaCar.

Charges against Zimin were first filed in 2021, and an international arrest warrant was issued for him in 2023. The philanthropist has been residing outside of Russia since 2004.