Diana Burkot
Diana Burkot, born 1985, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Pussy Riot members’ case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (September 15, 2025): sentenced in absentia to 8 years’ imprisonment. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Artists · Anti-war cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
8 years
sentenced in absentia to 8 years’ imprisonment
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (using an official position, a group of individuals, falsification of evidence, for selfish motives, or out of hatred)
Full wording of the charges
The case was initiated for the Pussy Riot music video titled, “Mama, Don’t Watch TV”, published on YouTube in 2022. According to the investigation, both the video and its English-language commentary form a “semantic unity” that due to “motives of political hatred” spreads deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The second count in the case involved the group’s participation in a protest at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne art museum on April 18 2024. The investigation claims that Pussy Riot members, “publicly and as part of an organised group, motivated by political hatred, shouted slogans about the destruction by Russian Armed Forces of the civilian infrastructure [in Ukraine?] during the special military operation,” with one member allegedly urinating on a portrait of Vladimir Putin.
Latest event
September 15, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 8 years.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Pussy Riot members’ case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Pussy Riot members’ case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0454/2025
Other defendants in the case
- Maria Alyokhina — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Olga Borisova — Not in Russia, 8 years
- Alina Petrova — Not in Russia, 8 years
- Taso Pletner — Location unknown, 11 years
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
A member of Pussy Riot. In September 2024, she was put on a wanted list in the case of disseminating deliberately false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation because of the clip "Mum, don't watch TV" and the action in the Munich Museum. On September 15, 2025, the court sentenced her in absentia to eight years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.