Sergei Evstiukhin
Sergei Evstiukhin, born 1986, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 148 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public insult of the religious feelings in places of worship); Article 244 part 2 item a, Russian Criminal Code; “The case of the cemetery photoshoot”. Sentence (February 19, 2026): 1 year 6 months' imprisonment with a probation period of 1 year 6 months. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, July 6, 2025.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Artists
Sentence
1 year 6 months
imprisonment with a probation period of 1 year 6 months
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 148 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public insult of the religious feelings in places of worship
- Article 244 part 2 item a, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the case was a photo shoot at the cemetery involving artist Anna Panteleeva, who was filmed topless in a BDSM costume. The investigation believes that Evstiukhin carried out the photo shoot.
Latest event
February 19, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 6, 2025
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 6 months
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of the cemetery photoshoot
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of the cemetery photoshoot
- Case number
- 1-206/2025 (1-1036/2024;)
Other defendants in the case
- Yaroslava Gumennaia — At large, 1 year 6 months
- Anna Panteleeva — At large, 1 year 6 months
- Kristina Rozhkova — At large, 1 year 6 months
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of St. Petersburg. He was detained on 19 June 2024 and taken into custody the next day as part of a case of abuse of burial sites over a photo shoot at a St. Petersburg cemetery. Police named him as the photographer. On 16 August 2024, Evstiukhin was transferred to house arrest. On 19 February 2026, he was sentenced to a one-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 148 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.