Konstantin Kochanov
Konstantin Kochanov, born 1997, Moscow. Charges: Article 213 part 1 item b, Russian Criminal Code; Article 214 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Vandalism in public places or on transportation); “Konstantin Kochanov's case of red crosses on the asphalt”. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, August 16, 2023.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Manual workers · Anti-war cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: arrest in absentia since April 21, 2026
Charges
- Article 213 part 1 item b, Russian Criminal Code
- Article 214 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Vandalism in public places or on transportation
Full wording of the charges
The red crosses painted on the asphalt on the night of 9 May were the reason for the case. According to the investigation, Kochanov painted two crosses near houses on Bolshoi Kozlovskii Lane and one cross on Nizhniaia Krasnoselskaia Street. The investigation believes that Kochanov expressed "disagreement with Russia's ongoing special military operation in Ukraine" and "performed public actions that create a real threat of undermining the security of the state" and harming the lives and health of citizens.
Latest event
April 21, 2026 — preventive measure: arrest in absentia
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, August 16, 2023
Timeline
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Preventive measure changed
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
Konstantin Kochanov's case of red crosses on the asphalt
Criminal case
Konstantin Kochanov's case of red crosses on the asphalt
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Kochanov is an electrician. He was detained in May 2023 for painting red crosses on the asphalt. Kochanov himself later said that he painted the crosses on the instructions of the Ukrainian project "I Want to Live", which calls on Russian military personnel to surrender as prisoners of war. It was alleged that at first the police refused to open a criminal case. At the same time, Pervyi Otdel reported that Kochanov was repeatedly told after his detention that a case of high treason would be opened.
Kochanov was taken into custody in a case of hooliganism, later he was also charged with vandalism.
Open sources do not mention Kochanov's health problems, nonetheless he was ordered to undergo a compulsory psychological and psychiatric evaluation. It is unclear whether this was part of punitive medicine or whether he actually has psychiatric problems.
Kochanov was later released from custody with a travel ban. He managed to leave the country.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 213 part 1 item b, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.