Maria Makhmutova
Maria Makhmutova, born 1990, Irkutsk Oblast. Charges: Article 318 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Use of non-dangerous violence against a government official); Article 319, Russian Criminal Code (Public insult of a government official); “Maria Makhmutova's case of insulting a government representative”. Sentence (November 6, 2025): 2 years 7 months in a settlement-type penal colony. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, February 17, 2026.
In brief
Irkutsk Oblast · Irkutsk · Bloggers
Sentence
2 years 7 months
in a settlement-type penal colony.
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 318 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Use of non-dangerous violence against a government official
- Article 319, Russian Criminal Code — Public insult of a government official
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, the woman insulted a police officer and used obscene language towards him on her social media account. She is also accused of using violence, not dangerous to life or health, against a public official, reportedly because she bit an operative during investigative actions.
Latest event
February 17, 2026 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, February 17, 2026
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 7 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Maria Makhmutova's case of insulting a government representative
Criminal case
Maria Makhmutova's case of insulting a government representative
- Case number
- 1-297/2025
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Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Shelekhov, Irkutsk Oblast. On 18 June 2025, the Investigative Committee reported the opening of a criminal case against her for insulting a public official, allegedly after she insulted and swore at a police officer on social media.
The case was opened following complaints from pro-government activists over a video in which Mahmutova criticised the celebration of Russia Day and participants in the war in Ukraine, saying, among other things: “What kind of holiday is this, damn it? A fing great holiday — Russia Day. And what are you proud of, huh? What are you proud of, damn it? That you live — eating the last sht without salt? That you have to kill people to buy cars and apartments, and drink like it’s the last time, and wear fing medals. Today your medals are a mark for life, a brand for life that you are f**ing murderers <…> If all SVO soldiers die tomorrow, I’ll drink wine.”
After the complaints, Mahmutova was detained. She was issued a protocol for discrediting the army, and the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal investigation under the article on discrediting the military.
At the end of June 2025, the blogger was sentenced to 13 days’ detention under a protocol for assault after she allegedly kicked a police officer during investigative actions, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She was subsequently given an additional 5 days’ detention under a protocol for drug use after taking phenobarbital (initially reported incorrectly as “Corvalol”).
On 10 July 2025, the Investigative Committee reported that Mahmutova was also charged with using violence against a public official, without specifying the exact reason for this accusation. Shortly before that, the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that she faced criminal liability for allegedly biting an operative during investigative actions in the case of insulting a public official. The cases of insulting a public official and using violence were merged into a single proceeding, and Mahmutova was taken into custody.
On 6 November, she was sentenced to two years and seven months in a settlement-type penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 318 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.