October 20, 2026, 10:54 AMRSSRU

Alexander Merochenets

ImprisonedChecked October 18, 2026

Alexander Merochenets, born 1999, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 205.3, Russian Criminal Code (Receiving training for the commission of terrorist crimes); Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 278, Russian Criminal Code (Violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order); “The case of military service in the Azov regiment”. Sentence (March 26, 2025): 22 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 12, 2024.

In brief

Rostov Oblast · Rostov-on-Don · Military personnel · Terrorism cases

Sentence

22 years

imprisonment in a strict regime colony

Verdict March 26, 2025

No information about an appeal ruling.

Charges

Latest event

March 26, 2025 — first-instance verdict

The court delivered a guilty verdict: 22 years.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 22 years

  2. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Rostov Region

  3. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  4. · Persecution begins

    The case of military service in the Azov regiment

Criminal case

The case of military service in the Azov regiment

Other defendants in the case

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Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

From 2018 to 25 March 2022, he served in the Ukrainian regiment "Azov" as a commander of the grenade launcher section. He was detained on 13 April 2022 in Mariupol. He was accused of participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, forcible seizure and retention of power and receiving training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities. Human rights activists note that he is a prisoner of war, so he should not have been held criminally liable actually for participation in hostilities, and in addition, consider the charges absurd. On 26 March 2025, Merochenets was sentenced to 22 years in a strict regime colony.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Ukraine
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 205.3, Russian Criminal Code

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

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