OVD-Info
Russia · OVD-Info
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryRussia
Age / Sex71 · male
OccupationJournalist
Arrested inElista, Kalmykia
Held at—
CategoryJournalism
StatusConvicted
Sentence—
Russia · context
1,220documented cases
376 urgent · 72 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
125
Unknown
2
Cultural
2
Ethnic
29
Case Summary
Valery Badmaev, a journalist, was prosecuted for reposting a video on VKontakte about the events in Mariupol, specifically a story by an Azov battalion fighter alleging the use of phosphorus bombs. He was fined 150,000 roubles and banned from publishing materials online and in newspapers for 2 years.
Key Facts
04 entries- 01Prosecuted for reposting video about Mariupol
- 02Video alleged use of phosphorus bombs by Russian army
- 03Previously fined under administrative article for similar publication
- 04Fined 150,000 roubles and banned from publishing for 2 years
02Charges
Charges
01 count- 01Repeated discrediting of the RF Armed Forces
Criminal Code Articles
01 articleArt. 280.3
03Analysis
Predicting Vector
Surveillance vector
Surveillance vectorSocial Media Monitoring
Technology usedVKontakte
Inferred demographics
70%EthnicitySlavic Russian
Region of originSlavic Russia
ReligionUnknown
The name Valery is a common Slavic male name, and the surname Badmaev is also typical of Russian naming conventions.
04Sources
Data Source
Source vs. PPW analysis
OVD-InfoCase facts, charges, dates, and status.
PPW analysisRisk, surveillance & sentence estimates — probabilistic, not the source's reporting.
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Cite this case
Political Prisoner Watch. (2026). Case file: Valery Badmaev (PPW case cmi88hnh). Retrieved July 6, 2026, from https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmi88hnhs008dli0tuggdlmfs. Original data from OVD-Info (https://repression.info/ru/persons/valery-badmaev).
Formats reflect this case as an online database record. Always verify the original source before citing in legal filings.