Sergei Ganin
Sergei Ganin, born 1987, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Charges: Article 208 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in armed groups against the interests of the Russian Federation including in the…); “Sergei Ganin's case of participating in an illegal armed formation”. Sentence (January 21, 2025): 9 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since February 1, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 17, Kirov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 20, 2025.
In brief
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast · Nizhny Novgorod · Manual workers
Sentence
9 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty
Upheld October 8, 2025
Charges
- Article 208 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in armed groups against the interests of the Russian Federation including in the territory of a foreign state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he "crossed the state border between the Russian Federation and Ukraine and under unspecified circumstances on the territory of Ukraine joined the illegal armed formation "Ukrainian Volunteer Corps". In late May - June 2015, he received weapons and uniforms, and in June - early July 2015, he was located at sites of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, participated in an illegal armed formation operating on the territory of Ukraine and not provided for by the legislation of this state, which opposed the people's militia of the Donetsk People's Republic on the territory of this self-proclaimed state, with the aim of achieving through armed struggle the goals of the Ukrainian Corps that were contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation".
Latest event
November 20, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 20, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 9 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Sergei Ganin's case of participating in an illegal armed formation
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Criminal case
Sergei Ganin's case of participating in an illegal armed formation
- Case number
- 1-28/2025 (1-164/2024;)
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 17, Kirov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
612740, ул. Трудовых резервов д. 125, Кировская область, г. Омутнинск, ФКУ «ИК № 17 УФСИН России по Кировской области», Ганин Сергей Сергеевич, 1987 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Nizhny Novgorod, fitter in a construction company. He was convicted on charges of theft and robbery. On 8 February 2023, he was detained on charges of participation in the activities of an illegal armed formation, namely the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, a military unit of the Right Sector. According to the investigation, Ganin participated in the activities of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps in 2014-2015. He was placed in custody. Ganin and his relatives claimed that he did not leave Russia during the specified time. On 21 January 2025, he was sentenced to nine years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 208 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.