Veronika Belotserkovskaya
Veronika Belotserkovskaya, born 1970, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Veronika Belotserkovskaya's case of "false information" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine”. Sentence (February 6, 2023): 9 years' imprisonment in absentia, ban on website administration for 5 years. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Bloggers · Anti-war cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
9 years
imprisonment in absentia, ban on website administration for 5 years
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation team, she published posts on her Instagram page which allegedly contained knowingly false information about the actions of the Russian army. She claimed that the Army was being used to "destroy cities and civilian population of Ukraine, including children, during a special military operation on the territory of the said state".
Latest event
February 6, 2023 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 9 years.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 9 years
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
· Persecution begins
Veronika Belotserkovskaya's case of "false information" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
Criminal case
Veronika Belotserkovskaya's case of "false information" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
- Case number
- 01-0001/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Popular Instagram blogger, lives abroad, was put on an international wanted list for charges of spreading deliberately false information about the Armed Forces. The court later seized her property. On July 22, 2022, the Ministry of Justice included Belotserkovskaya in the register of foreign agent individuals. Interpol refused to fulfill the Russian Federation's request to extradite Belotserkovskaya. On February 6, 2023 she was sentenced in absentia to nine years. On March 28 the arrest from her property was lifted.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.