Pavel Krisevich
Pavel Krisevich, born 2000, Moscow. Charges: Article 213 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Hooliganism (group, with weapons, or against a government official)); “Pavel Krisevich's case of performance on the Red Square”. Sentence (October 18, 2022): 5 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 23, 2022.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Students · Cases against "foreign agents", Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
5 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld August 20, 2024
Charges
- Article 213 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Hooliganism (group, with weapons, or against a government official)
Full wording of the charges
On 11 June 2021, he staged a performance on the Red Square, during which he shot himself in the head with a deactivated pistol.
Latest event
November 7, 2025 — added to the register of “foreign agents”
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 23, 2022
Timeline
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Persecution begins
Pavel Krisevich's case of performance on the Red Square
Criminal case
Pavel Krisevich's case of performance on the Red Square
- Case number
- 01-0334/2022
Thematic group: Pavel Krysevich's case of performance art on Red Square
Details and sources
Full summary
A Moscow-based performance artist. He regularly staged performances that led to his detention. One of them was carried out by Krisevich in early November 2020 outside the FSB headquarters on Lubyanka Square — he "crucified" himself on a cross above a burning pile of politically motivated criminal cases. After that, he was arrested for 15 days under the article on disobeying the lawful demands of a police officer (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).
In 2021, a criminal case for hooliganism was opened against Krisevich in connection with an action he staged on Red Square, during which he simulated shooting himself in the head using a deactivated firearm and fireworks. On 18 October 2022, he was sentenced to five years in a general-regime penal colony. On 15 June 2023, the appellate court sent the case back for reconsideration. On 27 September 2023, Krisevich received the same sentence again. In January 2025, the artist was released.
In late August 2025, Krisevich was detained and arrested for ten days for refusing to show his passport to police officers. On 7 November 2025, he was added to the register of "foreign agents". On 28 November, he was arrested for 15 days under the administrative article on petty hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). On 13 December, he was given an additional 12 days under the same article. On 30 December, Krisevich reported that he had left Russia after receiving threats from FSB officers.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Place of detention
- Pre-trial detention centre No. 6, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast
Other people prosecuted under Article 213 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.