Russia: TV chef Pavel Zyutkin was sentenced to six years in prison

Six years in a penal colony: This is the verdict of a Moscow court on Tuesday against Pavel Syutkin. The prosecution had demanded eight years. The accusation against the Russian historian, journalist and blogger was that he spread false news about the army.

On April 19, 2022, Syutkin shared a post about Ukraine on his Telegram channel “Russian Cuisine: History”. It was about the massacre that Russian soldiers carried out on the civilian population in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, in the spring of 2022.

"Kyiv was bombed - Putin's war had direct parallels to Hitler's war. Now Putin also has his own Babyn Yar (National Socialist mass crime in the Second World War against the Jewish population in Ukraine with 33,771 dead, editor's note). Butscha - more than two hundred civilians shot: women, old people, children," the now 61-year-old wrote.

Syutkin should hardly be surprised that such public statements are punished in Russia. Nevertheless, his arrest did not take place until October 2025. Bloggers and activists loyal to the Kremlin actively helped.

The father of four was born on June 19, 1965. In 1987 he completed his studies at the renowned Moscow Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). Three years later he defended his dissertation in history on the topic “Ideological aspects of US policy in Central America”.

He then tried his hand in the banking sector. Syutkin became famous in 2011 when his first book, which he had written with his wife Olga, was published: “The True History of Russian Cuisine”. While he immersed himself in historical research, his wife contributed recipes.

Syutkin's next book, “The True History of Soviet Cuisine,” brought him a breakthrough and promotion to culinary expert status. He and his wife won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award in the History category, the title was translated into English.

Syutkin took part in Expo-2015 in Milan as a representative of Russia, worked in the State Commission for Gastronomic Tourism, wrote books and was a constant guest on radio and television.

Syutkin's most important work was published in 2022: "Russian Cuisine. From Myth to Science". It not only tells the history of dishes or eating habits, but also explains how Russian cuisine changed with the country and reflected social development, according to historian Alexei Uvarov.

In 2026, another historical memoir was published - under his wife's name, as Syutkin was in custody. It was also his wife who provided interested parties with further information. Her husband is doing well, he describes his imprisonment as a “creative business trip”, is working on a new book and is teaching his cellmates English. He called on his supporters to keep their composure.

He is obviously trying to do that himself. Immediately after his arrest, Syutkin recorded a video message: "Every sincere writer, journalist or historian must be prepared for a prison sentence at any time. Today it hit me. But we should not despair. The day will come when this darkness over Russia will disappear," he said. The only question is when.