: Akunin dismissed the proceedings as a "bad dream" and refused to recognize the legitimacy of the court, noting that writers had not been accused of terrorism since the Soviet era. Key Works Often Sought on Digital Platforms
: For years, Flibusta (a famous shadow library) was a primary source for free e-books in Russia. Authors, including Akunin, often had a strained relationship with the site due to copyright concerns. : Akunin dismissed the proceedings as a "bad
: On July 14, 2025, a Russian military court sentenced Akunin in absentia to 14 years in a penal colony for "justifying terrorism" and spreading "fake news" about the military. : On July 14, 2025, a Russian military
Despite official bans, his series remain highly popular among Russian-speaking readers: This led major Russian publishers like AST and
Boris Akunin , the pen name of Grigory Chkhartishvili, has a complex and evolving relationship with digital distribution platforms like , particularly in the context of recent censorship in Russia. The Context of Flibusta and Akunin
: In December 2023, Akunin was added to Russia's list of " terrorists and extremists ". This led major Russian publishers like AST and retailers like Litres to pull his books from shelves and online platforms.