On February 19, 2025, the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation announced the initiation of a criminal case against former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev (recognized as a foreign agent, included in the list of extremists and terrorists of the Russian Federation). He was charged under Articles 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violent seizure of power or violent retention of power) and 205.4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of a terrorist community and participation in it). Along with Ponomarev, other unidentified persons are involved in the case.

According to the FSB, in November 2022, Ponomarev founded the political movement "Congress of People's Deputies" (CPD) in Poland, whose activities were declared undesirable in Russia by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office in April 2023. The investigation claims that the goal of CPD is the violent seizure of power and change of the constitutional order in the Russian Federation. To implement these intentions, Ponomarev, according to the investigation, entered into cooperation with one of the Ukrainian paramilitary units recognized as terrorist organizations in Russia.

Since its founding, the SND has held seven sessions, the last of which took place in November 2024. These events discussed issues of the transitional parliament and the strategy for changing Russia's political system. However, the activities of the SND have caused a mixed reaction among the Russian opposition and the public. In particular, in 2024, Ponomarev's former ally accused him of lying for many years and announced the relaunch of the SND without his participation.

In September 2024, the Second Western District Military Court sentenced Ponomarev in absentia to 10 years in prison on charges of disseminating knowingly false information about the use of the Russian Armed Forces and public calls for terrorist activities. Earlier, in February 2024, the FSB reported that criminal cases had been opened against him under articles on treason and justification of terrorism.

As part of the ongoing investigation, investigative actions are being carried out against Ponomarev and his alleged accomplices. Law enforcement agencies emphasize that the activities of the SND and persons associated with it pose a threat to the constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation. Officials call on citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.