OVD-Info
Russia · OVD-Info
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryRussia
Age / Sex31 · male
OccupationCook
Arrested in—
Held at—
Categoryanti_war
StatusReleased
Sentence—
Russia · context
1,226documented cases
379 urgent · 72 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
125
Unknown
2
Cultural
2
Ethnic
29
Case Summary
Nikolay Zonov, a chef from the Kirov region, is facing charges for unauthorized abandonment of a military unit after leaving Russia for Armenia in September 2023. He was detained in Armenia and told that a case had been opened against him in Russia, despite his claim that he was not mobilized; he has since been released.
Key Facts
03 entries- 01Opposed the war and left for Armenia.
- 02Detained in Armenia.
- 03Claims he was not mobilized.
02Charges
Charges
01 count- 01Unauthorized abandonment of a military unit
Criminal Code Articles
01 articleArt. 337
03Analysis
Predicting Vector
Surveillance vector
Surveillance vectorUnknown
Inferred demographics
90%EthnicitySlavic Russian
Region of originSlavic Russia
ReligionOrthodox Christian
The name Nikolay is a common Slavic Christian name, and Zonov is a typical Russian surname.
04Timeline
Case Timeline
Arrest date
March 12, 2025
05Sources
Data Source
Source vs. PPW analysis
OVD-InfoCase facts, charges, dates, and status.
PPW analysisRisk, surveillance & sentence estimates — probabilistic, not the source's reporting.
View all data sources →§ Updates
Get updates
We'll email you when new information about Nikolay Zonov is published.
You'll receive a confirmation email. Unsubscribe any time from a link in the emails.
Cite this case
Political Prisoner Watch. (2026). Case file: Nikolay Zonov (PPW case cmgoiraj). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmgoirajv0024lizyfycg7hnh. Original data from OVD-Info (https://repression.info/ru/persons/nikolay-zonov).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.