Yuri Kokhovets
Yuri Kokhovets, born 1985, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “The case of Yuri Kokhovets on "fakes" about the Russian Federation Armed Forces”. Sentence (May 13, 2025): 5 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 10, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 1, Yaroslavl Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 16, 2024.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Manual workers · Anti-war cases
Sentence
5 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
First instance, April 22, 2024: Forced labour - 5 years, ban on information posting - 4 years
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
The cause for the case was a poll of passers-by on whether the tension between Russia and NATO countries needs to be defused, which was conducted by Radio Liberty: in it, a Muscovite said that Russia "bombs shopping centres" and the military shot civilians for no reason, so the reduction of tension in relations depends on the actions of the Russian government.
Latest event
May 13, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 16, 2024
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Persecution begins
The case of Yuri Kokhovets on "fakes" about the Russian Federation Armed Forces
Criminal case
The case of Yuri Kokhovets on "fakes" about the Russian Federation Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0407/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 1, Yaroslavl Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
150036, Ярославская область, г. Ярославль, ул. Хлебная д.12, ФКУ «ИК № 1 УФСИН России по Ярославской области», Коховец Юрий Анатольевич, 1985 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Kokhovets, who had previously worked in a printing house and later in the disinfection business, was detained on 25 March 2023 and taken to the Yaroslavl District Police Department. There, he learned that he was being charged under a case involving the dissemination of "fakes" about the army. As a preventive measure, he was placed under a travel ban and was held in police custody until midday on 27 March. He was then released with a 500-ruble fine for petty hooliganism (under Article 20.1 of the Administrative Offence Code), which allowed the police to detain him for up to 48 hours. Initially charged under the first part of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code, his charges were later upgraded to the dissemination of deliberately false information about the Armed Forces with political hatred as the motive (point "d" part 2 of Article 207.3).
On 22 April 2024, Kokhovets was sentenced to five years of forced labor. However, on 17 September 2024, the appellate court replaced the forced labor sentence with imprisonment in a general-regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.