Documented cases

22 people held for political reasons in Russia, Belarus, Georgia and Central Asia. Search by name, or filter by country, charge, arrest date and sentence.

Country

Urgency

Natalia Doroshchenko

Natalia Doroshchenko was sentenced to five and a half years for justifying terrorism due to comments about the war in Ukraine. Her friend stated that sentences like 'I am against war' were used to build the case.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk Oblast

Social media

Artem Asalkhudin

Artem Asalkhudin is detained on charges including public justification of terrorism for a comment about Ruslan Zinin. He is also accused of preparing for sabotage, undergoing training to commit sabotage, preparing to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation, drug possession and high treason.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 20, 2026

Detained

RU-CMJM

20 YRS

Tulun, Irkutsk region

Activism

Belkovich Vladimir Anatolyevich

Vladimir Belkovich, a college student, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for state treason, preparing to participate in a terrorist organization, and inciting another person to terrorist activity. He was accused of posting leaflets for the Legion "Freedom of Russia" and expressing intent to join the organization.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 20, 2026

Convicted

RU-CMI8

UNKNOWN

Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast

Other

Unknown male 520

Unknown male 520 is a former security official from Irkutsk. He is at large and faces charges under Article 280 of the Criminal Code, but no verdict has been reached.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Sergey Georgievich Bryuhanov

Sergey Bryuhanov, an artist from Irkutsk, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for treason, propaganda of terrorism, participation in a terrorist organization, and training for terrorist activities. The charges relate to his alleged support for the Legion "Freedom of Russia" and gathering information on Russian military objects.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 20, 2026

Usolya-Sibirskiy, Irkutsk Oblast

Social media

Viktor Konovalov

Viktor Konovalov was sentenced to seven years in a general regime penal colony for inciting terrorism and actions against the security of the Russian Federation. The charges stem from his posts on Telegram supporting the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast

political

Sergey Uglanitsa

Sergey Uglanitsa, an entrepreneur and former deputy, has been sent to pre-trial detention (SIZO) on charges of publicly justifying terrorism online. He is known for his anti-war stance following the invasion of Ukraine.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 14, 2026

Grigory Gribenko

Grigory Gribenko, a regional leader of the Yabloko party, was arrested for ten days for allegedly disobeying police. This follows a previous 12-day arrest where he refused medical examination after being falsely accused of drug use.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Detained

RU-CMOC

UNKNOWN

Shelekhov, Irkutsk region

Activism

Grigory Gribenko

Grigory Gribenko, the head of the Yabloko party in the Irkutsk region, was sentenced to 12 days of administrative arrest for allegedly disobeying police. The incident occurred during a home search where he initially refused entry to unidentified individuals. He had previously attempted to organize a protest against internet blocking.

HEALTH CONCERNS

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Detained

RU-CMJ0

28 YRS

Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk region

Activism

Ksenia Garina

Ksenia Garina was detained after being released from pre-trial detention and arrested on new charges of financing extremist activities. The charges stem from transfers totaling 993 rubles to Roman Rugevich, the founder of the Anti-Torture project.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Detained

RU-CMTE

UNKNOWN

Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast

Social media

Maria Makhmutova

An Irkutsk blogger was sentenced to 2 years and 7 months in a settlement colony for allegedly biting a police officer and insulting an inspector. This followed her social media posts criticizing the war in Ukraine.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 5, 2026

Angarsk, Irkutsk Oblast

political

Ilya Morgunov

Teenager Ilya Morgunov was sentenced to over 8 years in a juvenile colony for attempting to burn military equipment using Molotov cocktails.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 18, 2026

Convicted

RU-CMI8

32 YRS

Usole-Sibirskoye, Irkutsk Oblast

Social media

Viktoriya Eduardovna Kutilova

Viktoriya Kutilova is accused of involvement in the activities of an extremist community and is currently in pre-trial detention. She was a subscriber to the Telegram channel ANTI PYTKI (ANTI TORTURE).

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Tulun, Irkutsk Oblast

Activism

Garina Ksenia Sergeevna

Ksenia Garina, a resident of Tulun, Irkutsk region, is accused of involvement in an extremist community, inciting disorganization of a prison colony, and inciting battery. As a volunteer for ANTI PYTKI, she edited complaints of prisoners.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk Oblast

treason

Artyom Valerevich Asalhudin

Artyom Asalhudin from Ust-Ilimsk is accused of several crimes, including public justification of terrorism, state treason, and preparing to participate in a terrorist organization, facing potential life imprisonment. He was arrested after a search of his apartment revealed cannabis and is also charged with petty hooliganism prior to the more serious charges.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 20, 2026

Grigory Gribenko

Grigory Gribenko, leader of the Yabloko party regional branch, was arrested again for disobedience to police following a search of his apartment. He had previously served 12 days for refusing a medical examination that allegedly found traces of marijuana.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 7, 2026

Grigory Gribenko

Grigory Gribenko, leader of the Yabloko party regional branch, was sentenced to 12 days of arrest for disobedience to police. The charge stemmed from his refusal to allow security forces into his apartment during a search.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 7, 2026

Detained

RU-CMU5

72 YRS

Irkutsk, Irkutsk Region

Religious

Sergey Vasilyev

Sergey Vasilyev, a 72-year-old Jehovah's Witness, was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment in Irkutsk for participating in the activities of a banned extremist organization. He was convicted for discussing the Bible with others.

HEALTH CONCERNS

LAST UPDATED · OCT 16, 2026

Badmaev Alexey Borisovich

Alexey Badmaev was initially sentenced to 7 years for treason, public promotion of terrorism, and attempted financing of an illegal armed formation, but the sentence was increased to 14 years on appeal. The charges stem from social media posts supporting the Legion 'Freedom of Russia' and attempted financial transfers to Ukrainian groups.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 20, 2026

Osa village, Irkutsk region

treason

Matheev Alexander Dmitrievich

Alexander Matheev was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to join the Legion "Freedom of Russia", promoting terrorism, and preparing for treason. He was detained while attempting to travel to Ukraine to join the Legion.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast

Activism

Danil Tomshin

Danil Tomshin, a resident of the Irkutsk region, was detained on charges of incitement to extremism for distributing leaflets advocating for the separation of Siberia from Russia. After giving his testimony, he committed suicide.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast

Activism

Ilya Podkamennyi

Ilya Podkamennyi was sentenced to 12 years in prison for extremism and terrorism-related charges, including preparing an explosion at a military recruitment office. The charges stemmed from online comments, possession of materials related to making incendiary devices, and actions such as attaching leaflets to railway tracks.

HEALTH CONCERNS

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Convicted

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