Marina Melikhova
Marina Melikhova, born 1971, Krasnodar Krai. Charges: Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries); “Marina Melikhova's case of repeated discrediting of the RF Armed Forces in Krasnodar”, opened on June 14, 2023. Sentence (December 15, 2023): 1 year 5 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony; previously convicted under Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code. Status: at large.
In brief
Krasnodar Krai · Krasnodar, Sochi · Office workers · Anti-war cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
1 year 5 months
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld June 27, 2024
Other verdicts
- March 24, 2021 — 3 years 6 months' deprivation of liberty in a penal colony
Charges
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
Melikhova was charged with two publications on VKontakte: a video with the title "Shock! There is not a single official published document of the Russian Federation on the Special military operation in Ukraine" and a post with the text "Slavs do not want war!". In August 2023, she reported that another episode had appeared in the case: the publication "In Tokmak the occupants' base was blown up" on the Telegram channel of public activist Mikhail Nazarenko. According to Melikhova, Nazarenko briefly renamed his channel without her knowledge, and it was called by her name for a period of time. Before that, Melikhova was twice fined for similar videos under the administrative article on discrediting the army (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).
Latest event
June 27, 2024 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year 5 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Krasnodar Krai
· Criminal case opened
Marina Melikhova's case of repeated discrediting of the RF Armed Forces in Krasnodar
· Persecution ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Marina Melikhova's case on calls to extremism
Criminal case
Marina Melikhova's case of repeated discrediting of the RF Armed Forces in Krasnodar
- Case number
- 1-1155/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Marina Melikhova's case on calls to extremism
Details and sources
Full summary
Head of the personal development centre "Age of Aquarius", dealing with aura diagnostics and cleaning, as well as energetic, psychological, and spiritual help. She has been involved in coaching and business training. Headed the Kuban branch of the financial pyramid Cashberry. Headed the "Council of Citizens of the USSR of the Prikubansky Okrug of Krasnodar". In May 2020, Melikhova was taken into custody on the case of calls to extremism. The reason was a video in "VKontakte" titled "On 9 May 2020 may come the end of the Putin regime! It depends only on us." On 25 March 2021, Melikhova was sentenced to three and a half years in a penal colony. In October of the same year, the "Council of Citizens of the USSR of the Prikubansky Okrug of Krasnodar" was recognised as an extremist organisation. In June 2022, Melikhova was released from prison.
On 21 June 2023, Melikhova's home was searched, she was taken for questioning, and the next day the court sent her to custody on the case of discrediting the use of the Russian Armed Forces. According to unconfirmed reports, the reason was her anti-war videos on YouTube. On 15 December 2023, Melikhova was sentenced to a year and five months in a general regime colony. On 1 June 2024, Melikhova was released.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.