Maksim Kruglov
Maksim Kruglov, born 1986, 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…); “Maksim Kruglov's case of military fake news”. Sentenced on June 24, 2026. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, October 17, 2025.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Politicians · Anti-war cases
Sentence
Imprisonment (open prison colony)
No information about an appeal ruling.
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
According to the investigation, in April 2022, Kruglov publicly disseminated deliberately false information about the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine, publicly available for an unlimited number of people in a Telegram channel under the guise of reliable information. In early April 2022, Kruglov published two posts about the events in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, which the Russian army had then abandoned, after which information about the killing of civilians in this town began to appear.
Latest event
June 24, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, October 17, 2025
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Maksim Kruglov's case of military fake news
Criminal case
Maksim Kruglov's case of military fake news
- Case number
- 01-0214/2026
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
127055, г. Москва, ул. Новослободская д. 45, ФКУ СИЗО-2 УФСИН России по г. Москве ("Бутырка"), Круглов Максим Сергеевич, 1986 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko party. In 2019-2024 - Deputy of the Moscow City Duma and head of the Yabloko faction in the City Duma.
On 1 October 2025, the Investigative Committee reported Kruglov's detention in the case of spreading "fake news" about the Russian army because of posts in his personal Telegram channel in April 2022. In the first days of April 2022, Kruglov published two posts on his channel about the killings of civilians in Bucha. He was taken from St Petersburg to Moscow, where, according to party comrades, he was interrogated all night. On 2 October 2025, Kruglov was placed into custody. The ruling stated that he was accused of "committing a grave corruption offence" in 2020.
The 24 June 2026 sentenced for 7 years of inprisonement.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.