Andrey Afanasiev
Andrey Afanasiev, Khakassia. Charges: Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of…); “The case of Andrey Afanasiev on the desecration of the St. George ribbon”. Sentence (June 19, 2024): 1 year's deprivation of liberty in a penal colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 4, 2025.
In brief
Khakassia · Sayanogorsk
Sentence
1 year
s deprivation of liberty in a penal colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to publishing in public information and telecommunications networks, including the Internet, for three years; A.N. Afansiev was also given a compulsory medical measure in the form of compulsory observation and treatment by a psychiatrist on an outpatient basis at the place of serving his sentence of deprivation of liberty.
Upheld August 29, 2024
Charges
- Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of individuals or using mass media or the Internet)
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the case was a post in Odnoklassniki made on 2 June 2023, which contained an image of the coat of arms of Nazi Germany tied with a St George's ribbon, a photograph of collaborator Ivan Kononov and the caption "During the Second World War, St George's ribbons were awarded only to Vlasov, who fought on the side of the NAZISTS, in the RUSSIAN Corps".
Latest event
August 1, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 4, 2025
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year
· Preventive measure changed
· Persecution begins
The case of Andrey Afanasiev on the desecration of the St. George ribbon
Criminal case
The case of Andrey Afanasiev on the desecration of the St. George ribbon
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Khakassia. On 20 February 2024, a case was brought against him for desecration of the symbol of military glory because of his post about the St. George ribbon. Three more of his publications were subjected to verification. For publishing a picture with the text "All you need to know about their victory on 9 May?" with Nazi symbols and a photo of collaborator, leader of the Russian Liberation Army (ROA) Andrei Vlasov, as well as images of the Victory Banner, the Order of the Patriotic War and a photo of Joseph Stalin, he was fined one thousand rubles under the administrative article on public display of Nazi symbols (Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code). On 19 June 2024 Afanasyev was sentenced to a year in a penal colony. Presumably, he was released in August 2025.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.