OVD-Info
Russia · OVD-Info
01Overview
Quick Facts
CountryRussia
Age / Sex71 · male
OccupationJournalist
Arrested inElista, Kalmykia
Held at—
CategoryJournalism
StatusConvicted
Sentence—
Russia · context
1,225documented cases
375 urgent · 71 report torture
Most common grounds
Journalism
124
Unknown
2
Cultural
1
Ethnic
33
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.
04Related
Related Cases
Module 01 · Solidarity Matcher
Cases like Valery Badmaev’s that ended in release.
The closest historical cases in our archive whose subjects walked free — the playbooks that worked for someone in a comparable situation.
05Sources
Data Source
Source vs. TD analysis
OVD-InfoCase facts, charges, dates, and status.
TD analysisRisk, surveillance & sentence estimates — probabilistic, not the source's reporting.
View all data sources →§ Follow
Adds this case to your workspace and turns on email alerts for updates.
§ Updates
Get updates
We'll email you when new information about Valery Badmaev is published.
You'll receive a confirmation email. Unsubscribe any time from a link in the emails.
Cite this case
The Detained. (2026). Case file: Valery Badmaev (TD case cmi88hnh, record version 2026-05-26). Retrieved July 21, 2026, from https://thedetained.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.