Vyacheslav Korzhevin
Vyacheslav Korzhevin, Kaliningrad Oblast. Charges: Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of…); “The case of a torn down flag with the depiction of the St. George’s ribbon in the Kaliningrad region”. Sentence (December 26, 2025): 1 year and 6 months' imprisonment in a colony-settlement. Status: location unknown.
In brief
Kaliningrad Oblast · Military personnel
Sentence
1 year 6 months
1 year and 6 months' imprisonment in a colony-settlement
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of individuals or using mass media or the Internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, on 24 November 2024, two 18-year-old servicemen, while intoxicated on the territory of the "Storm" sports school in the village of Yantarny, deliberately and publicly, having agreed in advance, tore from the wall of the building a flag dedicated to the commemorative date of 9 May with the image of the St. George ribbon. Then, shouting slogans aimed at the rehabilitation of Nazism, expressing disrespect for society and the days of military glory in Russia, desecrating the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland, they proceeded to the territory of the M. Bekker Park in the settlement and damaged the torn flag. They accompanied their actions with fascist greetings and statements belittling the role of the Soviet people and the Armed Forces of the USSR in the victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War.
Latest event
December 26, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year 6 months.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of a torn down flag with the depiction of the St. George’s ribbon in the Kaliningrad region
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of a torn down flag with the depiction of the St. George’s ribbon in the Kaliningrad region
- Case number
- 2-27/2025
Other defendants in the case
- Maxim Krishtofor — Imprisoned, 2 years 6 months
Details and sources
Full summary
Prior to his arrest, he served in the army as a conscript in the Kaliningrad region. On 24 November 2024, together with a fellow soldier, being drunk, he tore off the wall of a building in the village of Yantarny a flag dedicated to May 9 with the image of the St. George ribbon. They then damaged the flag. The military men accompanied their actions with a fascist salute. The investigation claims that both detainees are supporters of far-right ideology and hold Nazi and fascist views.
On 18 December Korzhevin and his colleague Maxim Kryshtofor were detained. They were accused of desecrating the symbol of military glory, while Kryshtofor was also charged with desecration of the flag and calls to extremism (these two charges are not considered political by OVD-Info). Both of them were taken into custody.
On 26 December 2025, Korzhevin was sentenced to one and a half years in a penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.