Yaroslava Gumennaia
Yaroslava Gumennaia, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 148 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public insult of the religious feelings in places of worship); Article 244 part 2 item a, Russian Criminal Code; “The case of the cemetery photoshoot”. Sentence (February 19, 2026): 1 year and 6 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 1 year and 6 months. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted on political grounds, July 6, 2025.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Artists
Sentence
1 year 6 months
1 year and 6 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 1 year and 6 months
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 148 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public insult of the religious feelings in places of worship
- Article 244 part 2 item a, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the case was a photo shoot featuring artist Anna Panteleeva, who was filmed at the cemetery topless in a BDSM costume.
Latest event
February 19, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted on political grounds — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 6, 2025
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 6 months
· Recognised as persecuted on political grounds
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of the cemetery photoshoot
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of the cemetery photoshoot
- Case number
- 1-206/2025 (1-1036/2024;)
Other defendants in the case
- Sergei Evstiukhin — At large, 1 year 6 months
- Anna Panteleeva — At large, 1 year 6 months
- Kristina Rozhkova — At large, 1 year 6 months
Details and sources
Full summary
Detained on 19 June 2024 in Pskov as part of a case of of desecrating burial sites in connection with a photo shoot at a St. Petersburg cemetery. She was brought to St. Petersburg and taken into custody on 20 June. On 17 July, she was released on her own recognisance. On 19 February 2026, Gumennaia was sentenced to a year and a half suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- travel ban (written undertaking)
Other people prosecuted under Article 148 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.