Viktor Filinkov
Viktor Filinkov, born 1994, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in a terrorist community); “The St. Petersburg "Networks" case”. Sentence (June 21, 2020): seven years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 12, 2019; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, September 4, 2019.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · IT specialists · Terrorism cases
Sentence
7 years
seven years' imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld December 20, 2021
Charges
- Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in a terrorist community
Full wording of the charges
Participation in the terrorist community "Network"
Latest event
January 22, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, September 12, 2019
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, September 4, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Yaroslavl Oblast
· Persecution begins
The St. Petersburg "Networks" case
Criminal case
The St. Petersburg "Networks" case
Other defendants in the case
- Yuliy Boyarshinov — Not in Russia, 5 years 3 months
Thematic group: The "Network" case
Details and sources
Full summary
On 23 January Viktor Filinkov disappeared on his way to Pulkovo airport. On 25 January, the press service of the courts wrote that he was arrested and pleaded guilty to participation in the terrorist community "Network". Later Filinkov recanted his testimony, saying that it was made under torture. Members of the St. Petersburg Public Supervisory Commission recorded their marks on Filinkov's body: numerous fresh burns from a stun gun on his leg and chest, a haematoma on his right ankle and handcuff marks on both hands.
Filinkov's wife, Aleksandra, has applied for political asylum in Finland. She had been in Kiev all the time after her husband's detention, but left Ukraine fearing for her safety.
On 22 June 2020, Filinkov was sentenced to seven years in a general regime colony.
On 24 July 2021, it became known that Filinkov was transferred to the basement of SIZO No. 1 in Kirov region after a conflict with the administration.
In the colony Filinkov was repeatedly placed in a punitive isolation cell. In November 2021, it became known that he was placed in a single cell-type room for a month and a half.
Filinkov was released on 22 January 2025, the same day he was deported to Kazakhstan - Filinkov is a citizen of this country.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Kazakhstan
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.