Vadim Kobzev
Vadim Kobzev, born 1983, Vladimir Oblast. Charges: Article 282.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in an extremist community); “The case of Igor Sergunin, Vadim Kobzev and Aleksei Liptser”. Sentence (January 17, 2025): 5 years 6 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony, 3 years' ban on rendering legal services. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since September 22, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Kirov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 1, 2023.
In brief
Vladimir Oblast · Defence attorneys, Lawyers · Extremism cases, Cases against Navalny/ACF supporters
Sentence
5 years 6 months
deprivation of liberty in a general regime penal colony, 3 years' ban on rendering legal services
Upheld September 22, 2025
Charges
- Article 282.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in an extremist community
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "using his status in providing legal assistance for access to the correctional facility, he ensured the regular transfer of information between the leaders, participants of the extremist community and Navalny A.A., who thus continued to perform the functions of the leader and head of the extremist community in planning, preparing, creating conditions and committing extremist offences".
Latest event
September 22, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 1, 2023
FACTUM stories
October 15, 2026
Three Years Since Navalny’s Lawyers Were Arrested: How Legal Defense Became a Criminal Case
Three years after the arrests of Alexei Navalny’s defense lawyers, Vadim Kobzev and Aleksei Liptser remain in prison, while Igor Sergunin has completed his sentence. The proceedings raise serious questions about legal privilege and the independence of the defense.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of Igor Sergunin, Vadim Kobzev and Aleksei Liptser
Criminal case
The case of Igor Sergunin, Vadim Kobzev and Aleksei Liptser
- Case number
- 1-190/2024
Other defendants in the case
- Aleksei Liptser — Imprisoned, 5 years
- Igor Sergunin — At large, 3 years 6 months
Thematic group: The case of the extremist community led by Navalny; The case of Navalny's lawyers of participation in an extremist community
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Kirov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
613040, Кировская область, г. Кирово-Чепецк, ул. Овражная, 16, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Кировской области», Кобзев Вадим Дмитриевич, 1983 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A lawyer representing the interests of Alexei Navalny. On 13 October 2023, he was detained in Kovrov (Vladimir region), when he was on his way to the colony where Navalny was held — on that day his client was to have a regular court hearing on a lawsuit against the colony administration. It became known that a case of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation was initiated against Kobzev. The court sent him to custody. On 17 January 2025, Kobzev was sentenced to five and a half years' in a general regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.