Alena Agafonova
Alena Agafonova, Volgograd Oblast. 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…); “Alena Agafonova's case of desecration of burial sites”. Sentence (April 5, 2024): 10 months of compulsory labor. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 19, 2024.
In brief
Volgograd Oblast · Volgograd · Entrepreneurs
Sentence
10 months of compulsory labor
No information about an appeal ruling.
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
According to the investigation, while at the burial site on the territory of the cultural heritage site of federal significance "Memorial Complex "Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" on the Mamaev Kurgan", she committed cynical, disregarding the norms of morality and ethics, the video recording of which she subsequently posted on the Internet. In fact, Agafonova recorded a video where she stood not far from the monument "Motherland Calls!" and began to move her fingers in such a way that it seemed to the viewer that she was tickling the chest of the sculpture. She was humming a popular circus tune (the march "Exit of the Gladiators" by composer Julius Fuchik).
Latest event
June 19, 2024 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 19, 2024
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution ends
· Persecution begins
Alena Agafonova's case of desecration of burial sites
Criminal case
Alena Agafonova's case of desecration of burial sites
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Samara. A case was initiated against her because of a video filmed in Volgograd near the "To the Heroes of the Stalingrad Battle" memorial complex, in which she pretends to "tickle" the chest of the "Motherland Calls" monument and hums a cheerful tune. Initially, the case was initiated under the article on the desecration of burial sites, but it was later reclassified as insulting the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland. After the video came to the attention of a blogger from Crimea, Alexander Talipov, who reports anti-war statements and other similar actions to the authorities, Agafonova publicly apologised. According to "RIA Novosti" media, she had been "hiding from the investigation abroad for several months." On February 9, 2024, Agafonova returned to Russia and was detained at Moscow airport. On the same day, a court in Volgograd sent her to custody. On April 5, 2024, Agafonova was sentenced to ten months of compulsory labor. Presumably, she served her sentence no later than the fall of 2024.
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.