Irina Chernikova (Lopanova)
- Criminal Code
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal CodeArticle 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
- Case category
- Anti-war casesExtremism casesCases against Navalny/ACF supporters
- Verdict
- Imprisonment (in absentia), Fine
- Sentence
- 4 years
- Date of verdict
- 2025-09-10
- Region
- Kaluga Oblast
- City
- Obninsk
Case summary
She is a masseuse and lived in Obninsk. In February 2023, the Telegram channel "Ostorozhno, Novosti" reported that a criminal case had been opened against her for discrediting the army because of anti-war publications on VKontakte. Chernikova, who was abroad, knew nothing about it at the time. In addition, in March, she received a certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs stating that there were no criminal cases against her. However, in June, her husband's relatives were searched in her case. Later, she received a notice that the case had still been opened in February 2023.
In February 2024, it was reported that Chernikova was prosecuted for participation in activities of an extremist organisation because she posted hyperlinks to the "Navalny's Team" Telegram channel and the YouTube channel "Navalny LIVE", as well as a hyperlink to a post on the "Vesna" movement's Telegram channel.
The cases were merged. In February 2025, the merged case was submitted to a court. On 10 September 2025, Chernikova was sentenced in absentia to four years in a general regime colony and a fine of 200,000 rubles.
Others charged under Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
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Source: this person’s record in the OVD-Info political persecution database
Published under CC BY 3.0. The criteria for treating a person as politically persecuted belong to OVD-Info; FACTUM relays their assessment and makes none of its own.
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