Denis Davydov
Denis Davydov, born 1989, Mari El. Charges: Article 354.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War); “Denis Davydov's case of desecration of the Eternal Flame”. Sentence (September 28, 2023): 3 years' deprivation of liberty in a strict regime colony. Status: at large.
In brief
Mari El · Yoshkar-Ola · Unemployed
Sentence
3 years
deprivation of liberty in a strict regime colony
Upheld December 19, 2023
Charges
- Article 354.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, on 14 March 2023, he came to the Central Park of Culture and Recreation in Yoshkar-Ola and desecrated the Eternal Flame. According to the court ruling, Davydov, "wishing to publicly demonstrate his superiority over others and cynical disregard for the norms of morality and ethics, he stood on a square pedestal of black granite, which is an integral part of the monument, moving along it, approached the five-pointed star in the centre of the monument, placed his feet on it in his shoes and threw a cigarette end into the torch inside the star".
Latest event
March 1, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Denis Davydov's case of desecration of the Eternal Flame
Criminal case
Denis Davydov's case of desecration of the Eternal Flame
- Case number
- 2-6/2023
Details and sources
Full summary
The criminal case on desecration of the Eternal Flame against Davydov was initiated on 15 March 2023, the Yoshkarolin resident was sent to a pre-trial detention centre.
On 29 May 2023, the Department of the Investigative Committee for Mari El reported the completion of the criminal case, the next day the materials were submitted to the Supreme Court of the republic.
On 28 September 2023 Davydov was found guilty and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Davydov had previously been convicted on multiple occasions for theft, and in addition, when sentencing him in the case of desecration of the Eternal Flame, the previously imposed sentence in the case of two thefts was taken into account, which we do not consider politically motivated.
Presumably, Davydov was released in March 2026.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 354.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.