Konstantin Kotov
Konstantin Kotov, born 1985, Moscow. Charges: Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Financing of extremist activities); “Case of Konstantin Kotov about donations to the Anti Corruption Foundation”, opened on August 21, 2024. Sentence (September 25, 2025): 5 years' imprisonment in absentia; previously convicted under Article 212.1, Russian Criminal Code. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, August 28, 2024; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 10, 2019.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · IT specialists · Extremism cases, Cases against Navalny/ACF supporters, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
5 years
imprisonment in absentia
Upheld December 2, 2025
Other verdicts
- September 23, 2020 — 1 year 6 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony
Charges
- Article 282.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Financing of extremist activities
- Article 212.1, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the prosecution was six transfers to the Anti-Corruption Foundation of 500 rubles each, made between August 2021 and 2022.
Latest event
December 2, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, August 28, 2024
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, September 10, 2019
- Recognised as a prisoner of conscience — Amnesty International, September 4, 2019
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, August 20, 2019
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Criminal case opened
Case of Konstantin Kotov about donations to the Anti Corruption Foundation
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
TDF of the Department of Internal Affairs of the North-Eastern Administrative District of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Persecution ends
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Vladimir Oblast
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years
· Recognised as a prisoner of conscience
Amnesty International
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Konstantin Kotov's case of repeated violations of the procedure for holding public events
Criminal case
Case of Konstantin Kotov about donations to the Anti Corruption Foundation
- Case number
- 01-0859/2024
Thematic group: Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) financing cases
Konstantin Kotov's case of repeated violations of the procedure for holding public events
- Case number
- 01-0300/2019
Thematic group: Moscow case
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Moscow, IT specialist. Participated in various protest actions. After being detained at a rally on 10 August 2019 for fair elections, an administrative report was drawn up on Kotov for repeated violations at public events, but he was released after two days. In the evening of 12 August, Kotov was detained on a criminal charge of repeated violations at public events. His home was searched and 21 posters were seized. On 14 August, the court ordered him to be placed in custody. On 15 August, Kotov and his lawyer were informed about the completion of investigative actions.
On 5 September he was sentenced to four years in a general regime colony.
On 27 January 2020, the Constitutional Court decided to revise Kotov's sentence.
On 3 February, the Deputy Prosecutor General filed a submission to reduce Kotov's sentence to one year.
On 2 March, the cassation court returned Kotov's case to the appellate court. On 20 April, the appellate court reduced Kotov's sentence to 1 year and 6 months. On 16 December, Kotov was released.
On 21 August 2024, Kotov was searched as part of a case of financing extremist activities because of a donation to the Anti-Corruption Foundation. He was detained and placed under house arrest the next day. In January 2025, it became known that Kotov left Russia.
On 25 September 2025, Kotov was sentenced in absentia to five years in a strict regime colony in the case of donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 212.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.