Sergey Kotov
Sergey Kotov, born 1972, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 276, Russian Criminal Code (Transferring, collecting, stealing, or storing information classified as state secret with the…); “The case of Nikolai Petrovsky and Sergey Kotov”. Sentence (September 27, 2023): 15 years' imprisonment in a strict regime prison colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since February 13, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 10, Saratov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 4, 2026.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Simferopol · Athletes
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment in a strict regime prison colony
Upheld February 13, 2024
Charges
- Article 276, Russian Criminal Code — Transferring, collecting, stealing, or storing information classified as state secret with the intent to transfer to a foreign state, organization, or their representatives.
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation team, he was an accomplice of Nikolai Petrovsky.
Latest event
May 4, 2026 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 4, 2026
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Persecution begins
The case of Nikolai Petrovsky and Sergey Kotov
Criminal case
The case of Nikolai Petrovsky and Sergey Kotov
Other defendants in the case
- Nikolai Petrovsky — Imprisoned, 16 years
Thematic group: The espionage case of residents of the Kherson region
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 10, Saratov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
410080, Сокурский тракт д. 57, Саратовская область, г. Саратов, ФКУ «ИК № 10 УФСИН России по Саратовской области», Котов Сергей Анатольевич, 1972 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Lived in Kherson. He was detained in April 2022. According to the Centre for Journalist Investigations, after his detention he was threatened with shooting. According to the investigation team, he assisted Mykola Petrovsky in giving information about the deployment of Russian troops after the occupation of the city to the Security Service of Ukraine. Kotov was transported to Crimea and charged with espionage. On 27 September 2023, he was sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime prison colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Ukraine
Other people prosecuted under Article 276, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.