Russian Z-Blogger Accused of Mercenary Recruitment Freed in Kyrgyzstan, Sparks Expulsion Demands

Viktor Vasilyev, a Russian Z-blogger previously accused of recruiting mercenaries for the war in Ukraine, has been released from pre-trial detention in Kyrgyzstan. The release, reported by "Ekho" citing the Telegram channel Mash, occurred on June 12, after Vasilyev had spent one year and two months in custody. Details of any prior conviction remain undisclosed publicly.

Following his release, Vasilyev plans to contest any deportation order from Kyrgyzstan. He wishes to remain in the country to continue his studies at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, where he is working on his dissertation. This intention has fueled strong reactions from Kyrgyz activists, who are demanding his immediate expulsion.

These activists argue that it is unacceptable for an individual implicated in a mercenary recruitment case to remain within Kyrgyzstan's borders. Vasilyev was detained in April 2025 as part of an investigation into recruitment for foreign armed conflicts. He was among four individuals involved, including employees from "Russkiy Dom" in Osh and the Osh municipality's press service.

Vasilyev has been linked to mercenary recruitment investigations, though official details surrounding his detention were not publicly commented upon. Russian and international media have previously identified him, under the surname Lukovenko, as having neo-Nazi views and a prior conviction in Russia for murder. Investigative projects suggest he later collaborated with entities connected to Yevgeny Prigozhin and engaged in information projects focused on Africa. He is also known as an Africanist and author of the Telegram channel "Smiling and Waving," and has been described as a former political strategist for Prigozhin. Kyrgyz activists have also linked him to the pro-Russian propaganda channel "Salam Kyrgyzstan."

The circumstances of Vasilyev's release remain unclear, as participation in foreign conflicts and mercenary recruitment are criminal offenses in Kyrgyzstan. Official Kyrgyz authorities have yet to provide public statements regarding the timing, conditions of his release, the finality of any verdict, or the status of his deportation order.