Elena Kotenochkina
Elena Kotenochkina, born 1977, 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 Elena Kotenochkina”. Sentenced on December 5, 2024. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted on political grounds, May 22, 2022.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Municipal deputies, Politicians · Anti-war cases
Sentence
7 years 6 months
Ban on activity, Imprisonment (in absentia)
First instance, July 15, 2024: 7 years 6 months
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
At a meeting of the Council of Deputies on 15 March, she spread deliberately false information "about the Russian Federation conducting military aggressive actions on the territory of another sovereign state, calling that not a special military operation, but a war", about the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army "with the aim of seizing its territory, liquidating its independence, change in its political or social order", about the daily deaths of children during the war in Ukraine, and about the fact that those actions of the Russian army on the territory of Ukraine "as an element of the system of state power are in fact actions of a fascists state". In addition, no later than on 16 March, she recorded a video "about the large number of servicemen performing compulsory military service who are in the combat zone on the territory of Ukraine".
Latest event
December 5, 2024 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 7 years 6 months.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted on political grounds — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 22, 2022
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 7 years 6 months
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years 6 months
· Recognised as persecuted on political grounds
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
The case of Elena Kotenochkina
Criminal case
The case of Elena Kotenochkina
- Case number
- 01-1134/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case; The case of Moscow municipal deputies on fakes about the Russian Armed Forces
Details and sources
Full summary
Head of the Moscow municipal district "Krasnoselsky". On 26 April 2022, it became known about the initiation of a criminal case on dissemination of deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces. Kotenochkina had previously left the country. On 29 April, she was put on an international wanted list and arrested in absentia. On 15 July 2024, Kotenochkina was sentenced in absentia to seven and a half years.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.