Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

Article 214, vandalism, is a minor offence in its basic form: Part 1 provides for a fine, compulsory work or up to a year of correctional labour for defacing buildings or damaging property in public places. Part 2 makes it a crime punishable by up to three years when committed by a group or "out of political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred". That motive clause is what brings the article into the political caseload.

Since 2022 the documented cases are antiwar graffiti and inscriptions: "no to war" on a fence, paint on a Z symbol, a slogan on a monument, stickers on a government building. Investigators add the "political hatred" motive to reach Part 2 and often combine the charge with Article 280.3 or 207.3 for the content of the inscription, so that a few words of paint can carry a multi-year sentence. Damage assessed in the hundreds of roubles is routinely the basis for pre-trial detention.