Dmitrii Aritkulov
Dmitrii Aritkulov, born 1978, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); “Dmitrii Aritkulov’s case of calls for extremism and public justification of terrorism”. Sentence (October 25, 2023): 5 years and 6 months’ imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 12, 2024.
In brief
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug · Anadyr · Electricians · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
5 years 6 months
5 years and 6 months’ imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld April 10, 2025
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)
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
The reason for initiating the case was "a link to the video and a commentary with statements containing obvious disrespect to society, to the Day of Military Glory associated with the defence of the Fatherland, as well as desecrating the name of the fallen soldiers".
Latest event
October 20, 2026 — case status changed
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 12, 2024
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Dmitrii Aritkulov’s case of calls for extremism and public justification of terrorism
· Criminal case opened
The case of rehabilitation of Nazism in Anadyr
Criminal case
Dmitrii Aritkulov’s case of calls for extremism and public justification of terrorism
Thematic group: Anti-war case
The case of rehabilitation of Nazism in Anadyr
Details and sources
Full summary
He is a resident of Anadyr. On 18 December 2022, he was detained in a case of rehabilitation of Nazism for posts he made on social networks; details are unknown. The next day, a case of calls to extremism was initiated against him. In October 2023, a resident of Anadyr was reported to have been sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment in the case of calls to extremism, as well as public justification of terrorism and defacing the flag or coat of arms of the Russian Federation. In all likelihood, the resident in question was Aritkulov. There was no mention of rehabilitation of Nazism in the report.
On 25 October 2023, Aritkulov was sentenced to five and a half years in a general regime colony. The charge of defacing the flag was dropped by the court.
In 2021, Aritkulov was already fined 100,000 rubles on charges of disrespecting the authorities – for the word “dick” (Rus. “huylo”) addressed to Putin.
In April 2025, reports came out that Aritkulov had allegedly been charged with financing terrorist activities for his donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The FSB local office for the Chukotka Autonomous District said that “additional crimes were uncovered in relation to the Anadyr resident” while he was in captivity. “It turned out that earlier he transferred a certain amount of money for the purchase of weapons and equipment for a terrorist battalion fighting as part of the AFU against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He also called for the killing of Russian soldiers and residents of the new regions, posting this information on the Internet.” According to the FSB, Aritkulov planned to travel via Georgia to the territory of Ukraine, and during the search he was found in possession of passports for travel abroad and currency totalling about $5,500 in US currency notes, euros and Ukrainian hryvnias.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Place of detention
- Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Khabarovsk Krai
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.