Documented cases

7 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

Mikhail Kostin

Mikhail Kostin's case for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces was dropped because the crime was past the statute of limitations. He was previously fined for calling the Russian military 'marauders' on VKontakte.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Released

RU-CMGO

34 YRS

Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast

Anti-war

Unknown male 206

A resident of Tyumen is under investigation for spreading deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces. Equipment was seized from him during the investigation.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Mikhail T.

Mikhail T. from Novy Urengoy was taken into custody for allegedly justifying terrorism. He reportedly expressed support for Ukraine and showed videos of attacks on infrastructure in Crimea and other regions, while approving of the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast

Ruslan Fomin

Ruslan Fomin, already serving a 12-year sentence, received an additional 3 years for public justification of terrorism, stemming from critical statements made in a pre-trial detention center. His total sentence is now 13 years in a strict regime penal colony.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast

Social media

Mikhail Mikhailovich Antonovich

Mikhail Antonovich was detained for allegedly financing terrorism by purchasing 'Telegram Stars' to react to posts in various Telegram channels. The prosecution claims these reactions constitute financial support for prohibited organizations.

LAST UPDATED · OCT 28, 2026

Pavel Verbitsky

Pavel Verbitsky, a retired former serviceman, is being prosecuted for allegedly publicly justifying terrorism. The case is related to comments he made online, including a poem he published criticizing the war, and he has since left Russia.

LAST UPDATED · SEP 10, 2026

on trial

RU-CMI8

25 YRS

Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast

Protest

Kirill Martyushev

Kirill Martyushev was accused of calling for extremism after posting a video critical of police violence at an anti-war rally. He was sentenced to three years in a penal colony for the video.

LAST UPDATED · AUG 16, 2026

Released

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Letter-writing guides: Russia · Belarus

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A plain, paginated index of all 7 documented cases — every record in one list, no filters.