October 20, 2026, 11:51 AMRSSRU

Kevin Leak

Not in RussiaChecked October 18, 2026

Kevin Leak, Adygea. Charges: Article 275, Russian Criminal Code (Treason against the state); “Kevin Leak's case for treason.”. Sentence (April 3, 2024): Deprivation of liberty for 4 years in a general regime penal colony. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 24, 2024.

In brief

Adygea · Maykop · Schoolchildren

Sentence

4 years

Deprivation of liberty for 4 years in a general regime penal colony

Sentence changed April 3, 2024

First instance, December 28, 2023: 4 years

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation, in the period from 23 December 2021 to 8 February 2023, he "carried out visual surveillance" and photographed the location of the military unit of the Ministry of Defence in Maikop, after which he sent the photos via the Internet to the mail of a "representative of a foreign state".

Latest event

July 30, 2024 — imprisonment ends

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Imprisonment ends

  2. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  3. · Appeal ruling

    sentence changed · 4 years

  4. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 4 years

  5. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Adygea

  6. · Persecution begins

    Kevin Leak's case for treason.

Criminal case

Kevin Leak's case for treason.

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

He lived in Maikop with his mother, they were about to leave for Germany. Shortly before leaving, on 10 February 2023, Viktoria Lik was arrested for 10 days under the article on petty hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) for allegedly swearing at the military recruitment office. On 23 February 2023, the FSB charged Lik with state treason. On the same day a search took place and the first interrogation took place. On 24 February, the court ruled to arrest Lik. On 28 December 2023, the Supreme Court of Adygea sentenced the schoolboy to four years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. In July 2024 it became known that Lik was under pressure in the colony: the security department of the colony did not include in the phone book the numbers of his mother, lawyer and family friend, while the young man filed a corresponding application, and Lik's letters do not reach his relatives. When he complained about his lack of communication with the outside world, the colony administration started threatening him with physical violence. However, soon Lika was given a phone card, and he was able to call his mother. On 1 August 2024, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Germany.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Germany, Russia
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 275, Russian Criminal Code

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

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