Pavel Yelmanov

A resident of Moscow. On 3 May 2023, a search was carried out at his home (formally - inspection of the premises, but in fact material evidence was seized as part of a case that was filed later), during which tactical military uniforms, a backpack, binoculars, chevrons with the Azov emblem, tactical glasses, an ammunition pouch, a first aid kit, balaclavas, and cartridges were seized. On the same day Yelmanov was detained and arrested for 10 days under the administrative article on petty hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). On 11 May, he was placed in custody on charges of preparing to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation: according to the investigation, Yelmanov was planning to join the Azov battalion.

Yelmanov's father later claimed in court that his son had been subjected to violence.

A letter from Alexander Strukov, a former photographer of Navalny's headquarters, who was detained in the case of calls to terrorism and incitement to hatred, indicates that Yelmanov accused his cellmates of being FSB officers and playing an act on him, as well as of putting something in his food to make him lose consciousness.

According to the project "Support Political Prisoners. Memorial", after his detention, Yelmanov developed "acute polymorphic psychotic disorder with symptoms of schizophrenia". According to the materials of the criminal case, Yelmanov behaved inadequately while in the pre-trial detention centre: "he listened to something, showed aggression towards others, shouted incoherent phrases, walked chaotically around the cell, claimed he heard ‘voices’ of an imperative nature in his head, said that he was being 'followed and persecuted', and did not react to remarks". Yelmanov was transferred to a psychiatric ward and received treatment. According to his lawyer, “as of 10 May 2023, Elmanov P.A. was unable to understand the nature and significance of criminal proceedings, correctly perceive the circumstances relevant to the criminal case, give testimony, independently take actions to exercise his rights and obligations, as well as to exercise the right to defence in criminal proceedings"."

Later Yelmanov was also accused of preparation for high treason, public justification of terrorism and possession of ammunition. According to the investigation, he endorsed the attack on the Crimean bridge and also checked the location of an air defence complex on the territory of the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region. At the trial, Yelmanov denied that he was going to join the Azov battalion. According to him, he took the ammunition from the unit where he served as a souvenir. In his own words, he travelled to the place where the air defence complex was located to check information on the Internet. On 27 June 2024, he was sentenced to ten years in a strict regime penal colony.