Comedian Ostanin's arrest has been extended for six months.

A Moscow court has extended the pretrial detention of Yeysk stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin, accused of extremism and insulting religious feelings, for another six months.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," at the end of December, the prosecutor's office approved the indictment against Yeysk stand-up comedian Artemy Ostanin, who joked about a legless disabled person. A charge of insulting religious feelings, elements of which were found in another performance by the comedian, was added to the charge of inciting hatred or enmity.

Moscow's Meshchansky Court today extended Artemy Ostanin's pretrial detention. The comedian will remain in pretrial detention for another six months, the United Press Service of Moscow Courts reported on its official Telegram channel.

The court's press service mentioned the extremism charge but failed to mention the charge of insulting religious feelings, which Ostanin now faces for another performance.

At today's hearing, the court did not have time to consider the merits of the case, only considering the measure of restraint. The prosecutor, in petitioning to extend the defendant's detention, noted that Ostanin was detained in another country and "has extensive connections." Artemy Ostanin himself requested house arrest during the hearing, recalling that his spine was broken during his arrest, according to Mediazona (listed as a foreign agent by the Russian Ministry of Justice).

In his statement, his lawyer recalled that the comedian has already spent ten months in custody. Ostanin added that he pleads not guilty to either the extremism charge or the charge of insulting religious feelings. The hearing on the merits of the case has been postponed until January 19.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that in June 2025, human rights activists recognized Artemy Ostanin as a political prisoner. Ostanin is charged with publicly inciting hatred or enmity "with the use or threat of violence," although his monologue about the legless beggar in the metro did not mention violence or threats. Without violence or threats of violence, Ostanin's actions should be classified as an administrative offense with a maximum penalty of 15 days in jail, human rights activists noted, calling for an investigation into the comedian's allegations of torture and humiliation after his arrest.