Masha (Maria) Hessen
Masha (Maria) Hessen, born 1967, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Masha Gessen's case of "fakes" about the RF Armed Forces”. Sentence (July 15, 2024): 8 years' imprisonment in absentia, ban on administration of Internet resources for 4 years. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Journalists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in absentia, ban on administration of Internet resources for 4 years
Upheld September 30, 2025
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
The case of spreading "fakes" about the Russian army with the motive of political hatred (item "e" part 2, article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) was initiated by an interview with Gessen, which was published on Yury Dud's YouTube channel in September 2022. The journalists talked, among other things, about the war crimes of the Russian army in Bucha.
Latest event
September 30, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Masha Gessen's case of "fakes" about the RF Armed Forces
Criminal case
Masha Gessen's case of "fakes" about the RF Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0390/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Journalist, writer. In autumn 2023, it became known that a criminal case was opened against Gessen for disseminating deliberately false information about the Armed Forces because of an interview with Yury Dud. On 15 July, the court sentenced Gessen to 8 years in absentia and banned her from administering Internet resources for four years.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia, USA
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.