Valery Kotovich
Valery Kotovich, born 1980, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 items a, d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “The case of Valery Kotovich on "fakes" about the RF Armed Forces”. Sentence (April 17, 2023): 6 years of prison in a general regime colony, deprivation of the rank of colonel and the right to hold certain posts for… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 16, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Kirov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 2, 2023; SOVA Center — recognised as a political prisoner, April 17, 2023.
In brief
Rostov Oblast · Rostov-on-Don · Law enforcement officers · Anti-war cases
Sentence
6 years
of prison in a general regime colony, deprivation of the rank of colonel and the right to hold certain posts for three years
Upheld May 28, 2024
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 items a, d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (by the abuse of an official position, by a group of individuals, with falsification of evidence, for personal gain or motivated by hatred)
Full wording of the charges
Telegram channel "Dva Mayora" claims that Kotovich "spoke out about aggressive actions of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine, looting of soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces, unreliability of the goals and objectives of the special military operation, losses in manpower and equipment, and suffering of the civilian population of Ukraine". Before that, the same channel reported that Kotovych, "being an employee of the logistics unit, did not fully fulfil his due duties, as a result of which the delivery of materiel and foodstuffs to the units at the front was delayed".
Latest event
May 28, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 2, 2023
- Recognised as a political prisoner — SOVA Center, April 17, 2023
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
SOVA Center
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Rostov Region
· Persecution begins
The case of Valery Kotovich on "fakes" about the RF Armed Forces
Criminal case
The case of Valery Kotovich on "fakes" about the RF Armed Forces
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Kirov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
613040, Кировская область, г. Кирово-Чепецк, ул. Овражная, 16, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Кировской области», Котович Валерий Николаевич, 1980 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Valery served in the internal troops of Ukraine on the territory of Crimea, in 2014 he received citizenship of the Russian Federation. According to the "Dva Mayora" Telegram channel, since 2020 Valery served in the Southern Logistics Centre of the Rosgvardia (Federal Public Establishment) as a Head of the Procurement Department. A case was opened against him for spreading "fakes" about the Armed Forces. Telegram channel "Dva Mayora" claims that Kotovich "spoke about aggressive actions of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine, looting of soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces, unreliability of the stated goals and objectives of the special military operation, losses in manpower and equipment, suffering of the civilian population of Ukraine." Before that, the same channel reported that Kotovich, "being an employee of the logistics unit, did not fully fulfil his duties, as a result of which the delivery of materiel and foodstuffs to the units at the front was delayed." The denunciation against Kotovich was written by his subordinates.
Valery was taken into custody. On May 2, 2023, he was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 items a, d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.