Irakli Khufenia
Irakli Khufenia, born 1985, North Ossetia–Alania. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Irakli Khufenia's case on public justification of terrorism”. Sentence (June 18, 2025): 2 years' imprisonment in general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since January 1, 2025. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, December 22, 2025.
In brief
North Ossetia–Alania · Vladikavkaz · Politicians · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
2 years
imprisonment in general regime colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the court decision, on 30 July 2024, Khufenia, being at his place of residence in Georgia, being dissatisfied with the political course of the Russian Federation and the special military operation conducted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with the purpose of communicating the ideology and practice of terrorism to an indefinite number of persons, posted on the publicly accessible page "Irakli Khufenia" in one of the social networks a publication with an image of Gagnidze Bondo Davidovich Gagnidze, a militant of the paramilitary association "Georgian National Legion" recognised by the terrorist community, who was liquidated in the zone of the special military operation on the territory of Ukraine, under which he posted a comment in Georgian justifying terrorist activity on the grounds of political and ideological hatred and enmity. On 16 August, Khufenia posted a publication on the same page with an image of a road sign representing a Ukrainian flag with Ukrainian symbols and heraldry, and an inscription in Ukrainian, translated into Russian to mean: "You are welcomed by the Kursk region." Then Khufenia, knowingly knowing that the invasion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine into the territory of Kursk region is assessed as a manifestation of an act of terrorism, under the above image posted a comment justifying terrorist activity on the grounds of political and ideological hatred and hostility.
Latest event
December 22, 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, December 22, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Irakli Khufenia's case on public justification of terrorism
Criminal case
Irakli Khufenia's case on public justification of terrorism
Thematic group: Anti-war case
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Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Georgia, member of the opposition party United National Movement. Actively participated in protests in Georgia. In January 2025, he was detained at the Upper Lars checkpoint. The court in Vladikavkaz kept him under administrative arrest for 15 days on petty hooliganism charges (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Following the arrest, he was again sentenced on the same charges. Khufeni was then taken into custody on charges of public justification of terrorism. Georgian media wrote that he was detained because of his statements in support of Georgians fighting on the side of the Ukrainian army.
On June 18 of 2025, the court sentenced him to two years in a general regime colony with a two-year ban on moderating websites and media chats. After the verdict was announced, it became clear that the case was based on Khufenia's post in support of a member of the Georgian National Legion, who fought on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces, and a comment made by him on the subject the invasion of the Kursk region by the Ukrainian military.
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.