Velimor Merkulov
Velimor Merkulov, born 1991, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 275, Russian Criminal Code (Treason against the state); “Velimor Merkulov's case on public justification of terrorism and high treason”. Sentence (March 1, 2024): 13 years’ imprisonment in a strict regime colony and a fine of 500,000 rubles. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 6, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 2, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 12, 2025.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · Yekaterinburg · Athletes · Terrorism cases
Sentence
13 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony and a fine of 500,000 rubles.
Upheld September 9, 2024
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, being "an opponent of the special military operation", he began to correspond with "a representative of a foreign state"; he received an assignment from him, which asked him to encourage mobilised people to surrender to Ukrainian captivity via social networks. In addition, he wrote a comment approving the blowing up of the Crimean bridge on October 8, 2022.
Latest event
November 12, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 12, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 13 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №5 (SIZO-5) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Sverdlovsk Oblast
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Velimor Merkulov's case on public justification of terrorism and high treason
Criminal case
Velimor Merkulov's case on public justification of terrorism and high treason
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 2, Chelyabinsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
454038, Челябинская область, г. Челябинск, ул. Монтажников д. 7 А, ФКУ «ИК № 2 ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области», Меркулов Велимор Валерьевич, 1991 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A mountaineer who lived in Zlatoust (Chelyabinsk region). On July 22, 2022, he was detained in Bashkortostan while attempting to climb Mount Yamantau, the highest peak in the Southern Urals. Climbing the mountain is prohibited: the area was designated a nature reserve after the construction of the closed administrative-territorial entity “Mezhgorye” and the classified facilities located there. Security officers found a Ukrainian flag with the climber, which, as the man said, he was going to raise on the summit. Merkulov was released but later detained again on charges of public justification of terrorism and high treason. Merkulov's mother, who was questioned as a witness, said that Merkulov wrote anti-war posts and made reposts of Ukrainian materials calling for Russian military personnel to surrender and videos of interrogations of Russian prisoners of war. The "Vechernye Vedomosti" newspaper claims that in conversations with friends, Merkulov said that he had established contact with the Ukrainian side, so in case of mobilisation he would find an option to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On March 1, 2024, Merkulov was sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime colony and a fine of 500,000 rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.