Evgenii Bestuzhev
Evgenii Bestuzhev, born 1960, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Evgenii Bestuzhev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (November 5, 2024): 5 years 3 months' suspended sentence, 4 years 6 months' prohibition on any online posting of materials or public appeals. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 17, 2022.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Scientists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
5 years 3 months
suspended sentence, 4 years 6 months' prohibition on any online posting of materials or public appeals
Upheld November 20, 2025
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
The charges stemmed from content posted on Bestuzhev’s personal VKontakte page and interviews he gave to Ukrainian YouTube channels. Prosecutors cited 22 separate posts published between February and late March 2022. In its ruling, the court only convicted Bestuzhev for one specific post – a shared link to Zelensky’s speech referencing "five-hundred-kilogram bombs being dropped on Ukrainian homes". Two additional posts were admitted as supporting evidence: a repost discussing new legislation about "fakes" and discrediting the Russian military, and a critical statement about Putin.
Latest event
November 20, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 17, 2022
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 3 months
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: temporary stay in hospital
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Evgenii Bestuzhev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Evgenii Bestuzhev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 1-775/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Bestuzhev is a political scientist and publicist, and a member of the political council of the St Petersburg branch of the Solidarity movement. He previously coordinated the Democratic Russia movement and worked at the Higher School of Economics in St Petersburg.
He was detained on 9 November 2022, and the following day a court ordered him to be held in custody on charges of spreading knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces.
Bestuzhev suffers from several serious heart conditions and has experienced heart attacks during court hearings. He previously had a myocardial infarction in 2008 and underwent bypass surgery. He now requires another operation—something confirmed by a doctor at the pre-trial detention centre—as well as regular medication and ongoing medical supervision, none of which can be properly provided in detention. Within two months, his health had noticeably worsened: he repeatedly complained to his lawyer about chest and leg pain, and doctors at the detention centre diagnosed him with superficial vein thrombosis. In early June 2023, it was reported that he had been transferred to hospital for medical examination.
In July, his lawyer revealed that he was also facing administrative charges under Article 20.3.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences—calls for separatism—related to a speech he gave in October 2022.
On 5 November 2024, Bestuzhev was given a suspended sentence of five years and three months.
He left Russia in December 2024. On 20 May 2025, an appeal court overturned the suspended sentence, replacing it with a prison term and placing Bestuzhev on the wanted list.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.