Sergei Mikhailov
Sergei Mikhailov, born 1976, Altai Republic. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Sergei Mikhailov's case of "fakes" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (August 30, 2024): 8-years imprisonment in a general regime colony, 4-year ban on engaging in journalism, publishing activities, and… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 13, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Altai Krai. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 21, 2022.
In brief
Altai Republic · Gorno-Altaysk · Journalists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
8 years
8-years imprisonment in a general regime colony, 4-year ban on engaging in journalism, publishing activities, and managing internet resources.
Upheld May 27, 2026
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he published in the LIStok newspaper's Telegram channel information that did not correspond to reality about the destruction by Russian troops of a maternity hospital and a drama theatre in Mariupol, as a result of which civilians were killed; from 20 March to 8 April 2022, published in the same telegram channel, on the LIStok website, as well as in the print issue No. 13(14)/1183 of the LIStok weekly of 6 April 2022, information inconsistent with reality about the killing by the Russian army of civilians in the town of Bucha, Kyiv region. The court returned the case to the prosecutor's office because the investigation failed to establish the location of the crime. However, the Court of Appeal then cancelled this decision and sent the case back to the first-instance court for a new hearing. The court pointed out that the investigation was not obliged to establish the place where Mikhailov was when working on the "LIStok": the place of realisation of the "crime" in any case is the Altai Region, as it was there that the newspapers with "fakes" were received by readers.
Latest event
May 27, 2026 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, May 21, 2022
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Altai
· Persecution begins
Sergei Mikhailov's case of "fakes" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Sergei Mikhailov's case of "fakes" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 1-79/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Altai Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
658209, Алтайский край, г.Рубцовск, ул.Тракторная, 23, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Алтайскому краю», Михайлов Сергей Сергеевич, 1976 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Gorno-Altaisk, publisher of the newspaper LIStok. Detained on 13 April in Moscow. On the same day, the editorial office of LIStok in Gorno-Altaisk was searched. On 14 April, Mikhailov was transported to Gorno-Altaisk, where the court ordered him to be taken into custody. On 7 April 2023, the court returned Mikhailov's case to the prosecutor's office due to the fact that the investigation failed to establish the location of the crime. However, the appeal court then cancelled this decision and sent the case back to the first-instance court for a new trial. The court pointed out that the investigation was not obliged to establish the place where Mikhailov was when working on the Listok: the place of realisation of the "crime" in any case is Altai, as it was there that the newspapers with "fakes" were received by readers. On 30 August 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in a general regime penal colony. In addition, he was banned from journalistic and publishing activities and the administration of Internet resources for four years.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.