Vsevolod Korolev
Vsevolod Korolev, born 1987, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Vsevolod Korolev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Federation Armed Forces”. Sentence (May 20, 2025): 7 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since July 12, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, July 28, 2022.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Artists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
7 years
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to the administration of sites on electronic or information and telecommunications networks, including the Internet, for a period of 4 years
First instance, March 20, 2024: 3 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 reason for the case was publications on VKontakte about the killing of civilians in Bucha and Borodyanka and the shelling of Donetsk by the Russian army.
Latest event
May 20, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 28, 2022
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
Vsevolod Korolev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Federation Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Vsevolod Korolev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Federation Armed Forces
- Case number
- 1-205/2023 (1-1261/2022;)
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
196641, Санкт-Петербург,поселок Металлострой, Северный проезд, 1, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области», Королев Всеволод Анатольевич, 1987 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A documentary film director. He produced short films about criminal cases against artist Sasha Skochilenko and journalist Maria Ponomarenko. He earned a living by tutoring in English and maths, and water excursions. Korolev was denied visits from relatives for seven months. On 12 July 2022 he was detained and taken into custody the next day on a case of spreading deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces, despite the fact that he had his thyroid gland removed and needed regular medical examinations. At one of the hearings, prosecution witness Mikhail Baranov, who during the investigation said that Korolev's publications made him angry, said that many of the wording in the interrogation report was suggested to him by the investigator, while he himself considers these publications to be a manifestation of freedom of speech. The testimony of Baranov and another witness, Vladimir Shatokhin, coincide verbatim. The defence has identified a number of serious violations in the examination of Korolev's social media page by an operative of the Centre for Countering Extremism. On 20 March 2024, Korolev was sentenced to three years in a general regime colony. On 2 July 2024, the court of appeal increased the sentence to seven years.
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.