Yurii Dmitriev

Yuri Dmitriev is a historian and researcher of mass burial sites in Karelia from the time of the Great Terror. The case against Dmitriev began with an anonymous denunciation alleging that he displayed his adopted daughter naked. On December 13, 2016, during an apartment inspection, photos of his adopted daughter, some of which were without clothing, were found on his computer. A criminal case was initiated for the use of a minor in the creation of pornographic materials. His adopted daughter, who had lived with him for eight years, was taken from him. On December 15, Dmitriev was arrested.

On February 6, 2017, based on the examination of the photographs, he was also charged with lewd acts without the use of violence against a minor. On February 10, he was additionally charged with illegal possession of weapons, as fragments of hunting weapons were seized during the inspection. The case was sent to court. In January 2018, after a psychiatric examination deemed him not dangerous, Dmitriev was released under a travel restriction order.

On April 4, 2018, the court acquitted Dmitriev of the charges of lewd acts and producing child pornography but found him guilty of weapon possession and sentenced him to 2.5 years of restricted freedom. On June 14, this decision was overturned, and Dmitriev's case was sent for a new trial. On June 26, Dmitriev was detained and on June 28, he was arrested under a new case involving violent sexual acts.

On July 22, 2020, the court found Dmitriev not guilty of child pornography, lewd acts, and weapon possession but sentenced him to three and a half years in a high-security colony for violent acts against a minor. On September 29, the appeal court increased the sentence to 13 years in a high-security colony and sent the acquittals for review. On December 27, 2021, the first-instance court reviewed the episodes of producing pornography, lewd acts, and weapon possession and increased the total sentence to 15 years.