Daniil Golikov
Daniil Golikov, born 1995, Moscow. Charges: Article 243.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Destruction or damage to war graves or memorials with aggravating circumstances); “The case of desecration of the memorial to the "heroes of the Russian Spring and the Special Military Operation"”. Sentence (July 8, 2025): 2 years' imprisonment in a penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 14, 2024. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, March 31, 2025.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Scientists
Sentence
2 years
imprisonment in a penal colony
First instance, November 18, 2024: 2 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 243.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Destruction or damage to war graves or memorials with aggravating circumstances
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he desecrated the memorial "in memory of all those who died during the Russian Spring and the Special Military Operation" on Varvarka Street. He allegedly scattered flowers, crumpled memorial notes, and discarded St. George's ribbons.
Latest event
July 8, 2025 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 2 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, March 31, 2025
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 2 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of desecration of the memorial to the "heroes of the Russian Spring and the Special Military Operation"
Criminal case
The case of desecration of the memorial to the "heroes of the Russian Spring and the Special Military Operation"
Other defendants in the case
- Andrei Kozlovskii — Imprisoned, 2 years
Write a letter
The address is not listed in the database.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Moscow, postgraduate student of the Higher School of Economics. On 13 March 2024, he was detained together with another PhD student, Andrei Kozlovskii, for damaging a spontaneous memorial to the memory of "heroes of the Russian Spring and the Special Military Operation". They were both charged with administrative offences of disobedience to the lawful demands of police officers (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). On 14 March both were arrested for 15 days. At the end of the arrest term both were detained under criminal case, they were accused of damaging memorial objects commemorating those who died in defence of the interests of the Fatherland. On 28 March, they were placed under house arrest. Later Golikov and Kozlovskii were also accused of vandalism.
On 18 November 2024, Golikov was sentenced to two and a half years in a penal colony. On 8 July 2025, the appeal court dropped the vandalism charge and reduced the sentence to two years in a penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 243.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.