Aleksandr Arsenev
Aleksandr Arsenev, born 1986, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 214 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Vandalism committed by a group of people, or motivated by hatred or animosity); Article 280.3 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries…); “Aleksandr Arsenev's case of the inscriptions in Saint Petersburg”. Sentenced on May 21, 2026. Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 23, 2025.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Artists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
1 year 8 months
Imprisonment (general regime)
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 214 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Vandalism committed by a group of people, or motivated by hatred or animosity
- Article 280.3 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries resulting in serious consequences
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, no later than 8:23 p.m. on 24 February 2025, being in a public place near the Mayak fence, located at 22-1A Yuzhnaya Doroga street, St. Petersburg, Aleksandr carried out public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens and to maintain international peace and security, including public calls to prevent the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. He made a certain inscription on the said fence, thereby causing damage to the property of the owner of the fence in the amount of at least 10,000 roubles (111US$). A similar inscription was also placed on Konyushennaya Square.
Latest event
May 21, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 8 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, September 23, 2025
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict, released from serving the sentence · 1 year 8 months
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Aleksandr Arsenev's case of the inscriptions in Saint Petersburg
Criminal case
Aleksandr Arsenev's case of the inscriptions in Saint Petersburg
- Case number
- 1-125/2026
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
A Moscow resident. According to unofficial data, he had six previous convictions. He was detained and taken to St. Petersburg on account of a case on vandalism and discrediting the Russian armed Forces, initiated because of several inscriptions "I don't want to get used to war" made in that city. On 7 March 2025, Arsenev was placed in custody. The United Press Service of the St. Petersburg courts said in a statement that he admitted that he had left the inscriptions "for selfish motives".
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 214 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.