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Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 61 individuals fighting for freedom and justice

Documented Cases.

Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 61 individuals fighting for freedom and justice across Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Central Asia.

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Andrey Soldatov

Andrey Soldatov, a journalist, is accused of spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces based on a YouTube video. He is wanted, his property was arrested, and Interpol refused Russia's extradition request.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Nikolai Polozov

Nikolai Polozov, a lawyer known for defending political prisoners, is facing charges of spreading "fake news" about the Russian army. He is currently outside of Russia and has an arrest warrant issued against him.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Ruslan Matveev

Ruslan Matveev, an activist from Moscow who has left Russia, is a suspect in a case of repeated discrediting of the army. He suggests the case may be connected to deleted posts on Facebook and a conflict with a neighbor.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Anna Kuzminykh

Anna Kuzminykh, a member of Pussy Riot, is being prosecuted for an anti-war performance in Tbilisi where participants burned a mannequin depicting Putin and a flag. She is currently outside Russia and wanted by authorities.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Igor Orzhevsky

Igor Orzhevsky is facing multiple serious criminal charges including terrorism justification and spreading fakes following his online activism. He and his mother have been targeted for publishing information about the war in Ukraine.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Grigory Chkhartishvili

Writer Grigory Chkhartishvili, known as Boris Akunin, was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison for publicly justifying terrorism, promoting terrorist activity, and failing to comply with obligations as a designated "foreign agent." The charges stemmed from a recorded conversation where he expressed support for Ukraine and organized fundraising efforts.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Oleg Kashintsev

Oleg Kashintsev, a former police officer, was sentenced in absentia to 8 years in prison for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The case stems from internet posts criticizing the war in Ukraine and the actions of the Russian president.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Artur Sarkisov

Artur Sarkisov was fined for painting anti-war graffiti on a central heating station in Moscow. The graffiti was deemed to have a "disfigured appearance that offends public morality".

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Maxim Katz

Maxim Katz, a politician and blogger, was sentenced in absentia to 8 years in prison for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The case stems from a video he published about the killing of civilians in Bucha.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Anastasia Burakova

Anastasia Burakova, a human rights defender, was sentenced in absentia to 7.5 years' imprisonment for spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The case stems from a video of her speech at a rally in Tbilisi, where she discussed the shelling of Ukrainian cities.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Grigorii Chkhartishvili

Grigorii Chkhartishvili, known as Boris Akunin, faces charges of justifying terrorism, attempting to violently change the constitutional order, and evading foreign agent obligations. The case was initiated after a conversation with pranksters and has led to book bans and searches of his publisher.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Sergei Medvedev

Sergei Medvedev, a political scientist, was sentenced in absentia to 10 years' imprisonment for spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The charges relate to statements made on Radio Liberty's YouTube channel regarding the destruction of Mariupol and the downing of Malaysian Boeing.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Alexander Nizamov

Aleksandr Nizamov, a student in Moscow, is charged with vandalism for participating in an anti-war protest where activists dyed a fountain red. He was initially charged with aggravated vandalism, but the charge was later reclassified; he has since left Russia and is on a wanted list.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Christo Grozev

Christo Grozev, a journalist involved in investigations into Russian government activities, is accused of helping someone illegally cross the border and disseminating false information about the Armed Forces. He has been declared a "foreign agent" and arrested in absentia.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

IIyas Belkharoev

IIyas Belkharoev, a resident of Ingushetia living in Ukraine, is accused of spreading "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces. The investigation claims he joined Ukrainian nationalists and discredited the "special military operation."

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Valeria Ratnikova

Valeria Ratnikova, a journalist and anchor for Dozhd TV, is charged with spreading "false information" about the Russian army and evading the duties of a "foreign agent." The charges are related to publications about alleged Russian army crimes against civilians in Ukraine.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Ekaterina Kotrikadze

Ekaterina Kotrikadze, a journalist for Dozhd TV, left Russia in 2022 and is now charged with spreading "false information" about the Russian army and failing to comply with "foreign agent" obligations. The charges relate to her publications about alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Elena Filina

Elena Filina, a former deputy, is being prosecuted for disseminating "fake" information about the Russian Armed Forces due to a Facebook post condemning crimes in Irpen and Bucha. She left Russia and was arrested in absentia, but the sentence was cancelled and a new hearing is pending.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Tamara Eidelman

Tamara Eidelman, a historian and blogger, faces charges of rehabilitating Nazism and spreading false information about the Russian army. She was previously included in the register of foreign agents and is currently not in Russia.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Andrey Kotov

Andrey Kotov was prosecuted for anti-war posts on VKontakte and sentenced in absentia to 7 years' imprisonment. He was also charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organisation and manufacturing child pornography before reportedly committing suicide in custody.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Igor Orzhevsky

Igor Orzhevsky, a blogger from Moscow, faces charges for spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces, public justification of terrorism, incitement to hatred and rehabilitation of Nazism. The case is related to his publications about the war in Ukraine and criticism of Putin; he sought political asylum in the US and was detained.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Lyubov Sobol

Lyubov Sobol, a politician, is facing a case for spreading deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces, specifically a post about Russian soldiers' crimes in Bucha. She has a history of persecution, including detentions, fines, and a replaced suspended sentence.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Daria Fadeeva

Daria Fadeeva was charged with vandalism for painting anti-war graffiti on a building in Moscow with others. She was given a fine as a sentence.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vasilii Viazkov

Vasilii Viazkov, presumably a military service member, was sentenced for spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The details of the case and punishment are unknown.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

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