Alexander Garnaga
Alexander Garnaga, born 1997, Occupied territory of Luhanska oblast. Charges: Article 205.3, Russian Criminal Code (Receiving training for the commission of terrorist crimes); Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization); “The case of Alexander Garnaga about participation in the Azov battalion”. Sentence (October 3, 2024): 18 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 4, 2025.
In brief
Sentence
18 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.3, Russian Criminal Code — Receiving training for the commission of terrorist crimes
- Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, in December 2023, he "voluntarily joined the ranks of the Ukrainian paramilitary nationalist association Azov, which was recognised as a terrorist organisation by the Russian Supreme Court. Then "was trained in the training centre of the Azov brigade personnel for the purpose of further implementation of terrorist activities". "The acquired knowledge and skills were used by him in the course of combat operations against servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the DNR".
Latest event
July 4, 2025 — persecution ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 4, 2025
Timeline
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 18 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Alexander Garnaga about participation in the Azov battalion
Criminal case
The case of Alexander Garnaga about participation in the Azov battalion
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Luhansk region (Ukraine). Presumably, he was a commander of the rifle work of the former Azov battalion. Captured in February 2024 during the fighting in Avdeevka. A case was opened against him on participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation and undergoing training for terrorist activities. On 3 October 2024, Garnaga was sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime colony. On 4 July 2025, he was handed over to Ukraine as part of a prisoner exchange.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Ukraine
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.3, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.