Maxim Lavrentiev
Maxim Lavrentiev, born 1981, Kemerovo Oblast. Charges: Article 115 part 2 items a, v, Russian Criminal Code (Intentional Infliction of Minor Harm to Health out of hooligan motives with the use of weapons or…); Article 116, Russian Criminal Code (Battery); Article 213 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Hooliganism (group, with weapons, or against a government official)); “The case of Kemerovo bloggers”. Sentence (August 16, 2024): 9 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since June 28, 2020; place of detention: Penal colony No. 13, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, November 22, 2021.
In brief
Kemerovo Oblast · Kemerovo · Bloggers · Extremism cases
Sentence
9 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld February 6, 2026
Charges
- Article 115 part 2 items a, v, Russian Criminal Code — Intentional Infliction of Minor Harm to Health out of hooligan motives with the use of weapons or items used as weapons.
- Article 116, Russian Criminal Code — Battery
- Article 213 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Hooliganism (group, with weapons, or against a government official)
- Article 282 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Incitement of hatred or enmity (with violence, using official position, or by a group)
- Article 318 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Use of dangerous violence against a government official
Full wording of the charges
Maxim Lavrentiev and Sergey Kamensky are the hosts of the YouTube blog "Don't Be Inert". On 28 April 2020, the bloggers participated in a raid to combat improper parking. Between the activists and the driver of one of the parked cars there was a conflict. According to the version of the investigation, Lavrentiev sprayed pepper gas from a canister in the direction of the driver, and Kamensky - in the direction of the passenger. In connection with this incident, the bloggers were charged with hooliganism (part 2 of article 213 of the Criminal Code). Also Lavrentiev was charged with the article on the use of violence against a representative of the authorities (part 2 of article 318 of the Criminal Code). According to the prosecution, on 5 June 2020, Lavrentiev used a gas canister against an FSB officer while filming a story near the building of the Kemerovo Department of the Federal Security Service. In February 2020, it became known that a case was opened against the activists under the article on incitement to hatred or enmity (point "c" part 2 article 282 of the Criminal Code). The investigator stated that Lavrentiev had created an organised group aimed at discrediting law enforcers, and Kamensky and fellow blogger Anatoly Sadovin were members of this group.
Latest event
February 6, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, November 22, 2021
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 9 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Kemerovo Oblast
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of Kemerovo bloggers
Criminal case
The case of Kemerovo bloggers
- Case number
- 1-19/2023 (1-90/2022; 1-620/2021;)
Other defendants in the case
- Sergey Kamensky — Location unknown, 5 years
- Anatoly Sadovin — At large, 3 years
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 13, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
622013, Свердловская область, г. Нижний Тагил, ул. Кулибина д. 61, ФКУ «ИК № 13 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области»«Красная утка», Лаврентьев Максим Анатольевич, 1981 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Kemerovo, who hosts a YouTube blog "Don't Be Inert", dedicated to exposing violations by officials and law enforcement officers.
On April 28, 2020, he, along with his co-host Sergey Kamensky, participated in a raid against illegal parking. A conflict arose between the activists and the driver of one of the parked cars. According to the investigation, Lavrentyev sprayed pepper spray towards the driver. However, according to a video published by the blogger supporters, it was not Lavrentyev but Kamensky who sprayed the driver when the driver attacked him. Later, an unknown man attacked Lavrentyev and threw him to the ground.
On June 5, Lavrentyev, along with Kamensky, was filming a report near the Kemerovo FSB building. They approached one of the cars and demanded that the driver move the car. The car drove away, but a man in a suit emerged from the building, approached Kamensky, and, without introducing himself, asked, "Who are you?" then grabbed Kamensky's camera and quickly walked away. Lavrentyev chased him, trying to retrieve the camera, and used pepper spray several times. It was later revealed that the attacker was Dmitry Kislyov, an employee of the Kemerovo FSB.
In June, in connection with the first incident, Lavrentyev was charged with hooliganism. On June 28, he was taken into custody. On July 13, he was placed under house arrest, but on August 7, he was taken back into custody because his common-law wife, who is a witness in the case, visited him during his house arrest (neither Lavrentyev nor she knew about this at the time). On October 5, Lavrentyev was charged with using violence against a government official in connection with the incident involving the FSB officer.
In February 2021, Lavrentyev was also charged with inciting hatred as a member of an organized group allegedly aimed at discrediting law enforcement.
It was later revealed that Lavrentyev was also charged with intentional infliction of bodily harm with a weapon, motivated by hooliganism.
Lavrentyev and his lawyer are under a non-disclosure agreement.
First, Lavrentyev had been held in a basement cell, then he was moved to another one. He has been kept in solitary confinement the entire time. This has affected the blogger's psychological state as well as his health: Lavrentyev has developed a chronic illness and suffers from back pain due to drafts. During the last session at the Central District Court, an ambulance was called to administer an anti-inflammatory injection to Lavrentyev. On that day, January 24, the public was not allowed into the courtroom, although the case is being heard in an open session.
On August 16, 2024, Lavrentyev was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 115 part 2 items a, v, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.