Iurii Malev
Iurii Malev, born 1963, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of…); “Iurii Malev's case of abuse of the St George ribbon”. Sentence (August 27, 2024): 2 years' imprisonment in a settlement colony, plus 1 year 6 months' of restricted freedom. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 15, 2024.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Security guards
Sentence
2 years
imprisonment in a settlement colony, plus 1 year 6 months' of restricted freedom
First instance, June 5, 2024: 3 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of individuals or using mass media or the Internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the official version, on 8 June 2022, Malev posted in Odnoklassniki "a photo image of the St. George ribbon with the caption on the image - an identifying sign of a person with non-traditional sexual orientation, using coarse profanity to identify this person". And in addition, on 8 May 2023, the man, the investigation claims, "posted a photo image of a corpse with instructions on 'how to properly wear the St. George ribbon'." Malev's acquaintances write that he was charged for the posts published five years ago.
Latest event
October 18, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 15, 2024
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 2 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years 6 months
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
Iurii Malev's case of abuse of the St George ribbon
Criminal case
Iurii Malev's case of abuse of the St George ribbon
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of St. Petersburg, he worked as a security guard at a sports complex in Brooklyn, New York. In December 2023, he was taken into custody as part of the case of desecration of the St. George ribbon. On 5 June 2024, he was sentenced to 3.5 years in a penal colony. Presumably, he was released on 18 March 2025.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia, USA
Other people prosecuted under Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.