Sergei Briukhanov
Sergei Briukhanov, born 1971, Irkutsk Oblast. Charges: Article 205.1 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Assisting or financing terrorist activities); Article 205.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Assisting to or financing terrorist activities through an official position); Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Sergei Briukhanov's case”. Sentence (July 30, 2025): 19 years' imprisonment, with the first 4 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a high-security penal colony… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 11, 2023; place of detention: Prison No. 2, Vladimir Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 30, 2025.
In brief
Irkutsk Oblast · Irkutsk · Artists · Terrorism cases
Sentence
19 years
imprisonment, with the first 4 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a high-security penal colony, accompanied by a ban from engaging in any activity related to publishing materials on the Internet for a period of 2 years and placement under restriction of liberty for 1 year.
First instance, March 13, 2025: 14 years
Charges
- Article 205.1 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Assisting or financing terrorist activities
- Article 205.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Assisting to or financing terrorist activities through an official position
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 205.3, Russian Criminal Code — Receiving training for the commission of terrorist crimes
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "being an ardent opponent of the Russian Federation and a convinced adherent of the ideology of the terrorist organisation Legion of Freedom of Russia (recognised by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation as a terrorist organisation), he established contact with its representatives and joined the organisation. While carrying out the tasks of the terrorist organisation, Bryukhanov applied its symbols in various locations in Irkutsk. At the same time, realising that the organisation was controlled and managed by the special services of Ukraine and was carrying out activities against the security of the Russian Federation, on the grounds of political hatred, he committed treason by collecting and transmitting information on the location of strategic facilities of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, military commissions and military units, taking photographs and drawing up diagrams of the location of the facilities, indicating CCTV cameras, entrances, exits and other characteristics. In addition, he took active steps to form false beliefs about the activities of this organisation, the need to join, to commit actions in order to disseminate and propagandise its ideology, to commit unlawful acts prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as by other actions, ways and means to involve, induce and recruit his acquaintances and close relatives".
Latest event
September 30, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, September 30, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 19 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 14 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Sergei Briukhanov's case
Criminal case
Sergei Briukhanov's case
Write a letter
Facility: Prison No. 2, Vladimir Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
600020, ул. Большая Нижегородская д. 67, Владимирская область, г. Владимир, ФКУ «Тюрьма № 2 УФСИН по Владимирской области» «Владимирский централ», Брюханов Сергей Георгиевич, 1971 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Irkutsk. According to his son, he was detained because he "drew on the fence an insult against Putin and symbols" of the Freedom to Russia Legion. During the search, according to his son, they found correspondence with representatives of the legion. On the 11th of August 2023, the Irkutsk resident was placed in custody. Later, it became known that he was charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, high treason, appeal to terrorism, inducement to terrorism and training for terrorist activities. On the 13th of March 2025, Briukhanov was sentenced to 14 years in a strict regime colony. On the 30th of July 2025, the appeal court increased the sentence to 19 years.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.1 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.