Vadim Cheldiev
Vadim Cheldiev, born 1981, North Ossetia–Alania. Charges: Article 207.1, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of knowingly false information about circumstances posing a threat to the life and…); Article 212 part 1 applied with Article 33 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Organizing and directing mass riots); Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); “The case of the organisers of the popular gathering in Vladikavkaz”. Sentence (July 19, 2022): 10 years' imprisonment in a strict-regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 17, 2020; place of detention: Penal colony No. 4, Penza Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 9, 2023.
In brief
North Ossetia–Alania · Vladikavkaz · Artists, Musicians · Extremism cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
10 years
imprisonment in a strict-regime colony
Upheld November 14, 2022
Charges
- Article 207.1, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of knowingly false information about circumstances posing a threat to the life and safety of citizens
- Article 212 part 1 applied with Article 33 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Organizing and directing mass riots
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
- Article 318 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Use of non-dangerous violence against a government official
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he was the organiser of mass riots in Vladikavkaz on 20 April 2020, publicly disseminated knowingly false information threatening the safety and health of citizens, during his convoy from St. Petersburg to Vladikavkaz Cheldiev struck two blows with his fist to the operative of the Centre for Counteraction to Extremism Atsamaz Pliev, called for extremist actions.
Latest event
April 1, 2024 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 9, 2023
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 10 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of the organisers of the popular gathering in Vladikavkaz
Criminal case
The case of the organisers of the popular gathering in Vladikavkaz
Other defendants in the case
- Arsen Besolov — Imprisoned, 8 years 6 months
- Ramis Chirkinov — Not in Russia, 8 years
Thematic group: Vladikavkaz case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 4, Penza Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
440042, г. Пенза, ул. Молодогвардейская, д. 9., ФКУ «ИК № 4 УФСИН России по Пензенской области», Чельдиев Вадим Казбекович, 1981 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
An opera singer, soloist of The Mariinsky Theatre. Actively spoke out against coronavirus restrictions, recorded appeals to his countrymen, calling for street protests. On 17 April 2020, three days prior to the rally against coronavirus restrictions in Vladikavkaz, Cheldiev was detained in Saint Petersburg as part of the case on dissemination of deliberately false information about circumstances representing a threat to a human life or health. Cheldiev was transferred to Vladikavkaz. According to the investigation, on the way from the Mineralnye Vody airport to Vladikavkaz, while being in a police officer's personal car, Cheldiev attacked a policeman and hit him twice in the face with his fist. Due to this he was accused of use of violence against an authorities representative. Cheldiev was taken into custody. He was also accused of hooliganism, but later the accusation was reclassified to organizing mass riots and calling for extremist activities. On 19 July 2022 Cheldiev was sentenced to 10 years in a strict-regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.