October 20, 2026, 10:54 AMRSSRU

Mikhail Kulkov

ImprisonedChecked October 18, 2026

Mikhail Kulkov, born 1994, Penza Oblast. Charges: Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in a terrorist community); Article 228.1 part 4 item g applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Attempt at the illegal production, sale, or shipment of drugs or their counterparts in large amounts); “The "Network" case in Penza”. Sentence (February 9, 2020): 10 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since July 5, 2018; place of detention: Penal colony No. 6, Mari El. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, December 17, 2019; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, December 8, 2019.

In brief

Penza Oblast · Penza · Students · Terrorism cases

Sentence

10 years

imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony

Verdict February 9, 2020

Upheld April 26, 2021

Charges

Full wording of the charges

He participated in the activities of the terrorist organization “Network” and planned to distribute narcotics in large quantities.

Latest event

April 26, 2021 — cassation

The court upheld the verdict.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Cassation ruling

    upheld

  2. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 10 years

  3. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners

  4. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial Human Rights Centre

  5. · Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”

  6. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Penza Oblast

Criminal case

The "Network" case in Penza

Other defendants in the case

Thematic group: The "Network" case

Write a letter

Facility: Penal colony No. 6, Mari El

Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)

424006, г. Йошкар-Ола, ул. Строителей, 56а, ФКУ «ИК № 6 УФСИН по Республике Марий Эл», Кульков Михаил Алексеевич, 1994 г.р.

Address checked October 18, 2026

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

An anarchist from Penza, Mikhail Kulykov, was first detained in March 2017 together with Maxim Ivankin and anti-fascist Alexey Poltavets, who later said that FSB officers tortured him after the arrest. According to Poltavets, one of the officers searched Kulykov’s backpack and then shouted, “There are drugs here!” At that moment, the detainees were not allowed to look at the officer.

During the “interrogation” at the FSB, Kulykov took full responsibility, according to Poltavets. After two days, the young men were released under a travel restriction order.

In June 2018, it became known that a criminal case had been opened against Kulykov and Ivankin for preparing to produce or distribute narcotics in large quantities (paragraph “g,” part 4, Article 228.1 of the Criminal Code, applied with part 3, Article 30 of the Criminal Code).

In July, the two young men were detained in Moscow and brought to the Penza pre-trial detention center. The court remanded them in custody.

On 10 February 2020, Kulykov was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony.

In October 2023, it became known that in the colony Kulykov was receiving empty envelopes instead of letters.Mikhail Kulkov, an anarchist from Penza, was first detained in March 2017 together with Maxim Ivankin and anti-fascist Alexei Poltavets, who said that after his detention he was tortured by Federal Security Service officers. Then, according to Poltavets, one of the officers searched Kulkov's rucksack and then shouted "There's drugs here!". The detainees were not allowed to look in the direction of the officer at that moment.

During the "interrogation" at the Federal Security Service, Kulkov took all the blame, Poltavets said. After two days, the young men were released on a personal recognisance.

In June 2018, it became known that a criminal case was opened on Kulkov and Ivankin on preparation for the production or sale of drugs in large quantities (point "g" part 4 of article 228.1 of the CC with the application of part 3 of article 30 of the CC).

In July two young men were detained in Moscow and brought to Penza pre-trial detention centre. The court arrested them.

On 10 February 2020 he was sentenced to 10 years in a strict regime penal colony.

In October 2023, it became known that Kulkov in the colony receives empty envelopes instead of letters.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Other
Sources (2)

Other people prosecuted under Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 356 under this article →