Aleksander Nesterenko
Aleksander Nesterenko, born 1963, Moscow. Charges: Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); Article 282 part 2 item a, Russian Criminal Code (Incitement of hatred or enmity with the use of violence or the threat of violence); “Aleksandr Nesterenko's case about Ukrainian songs”. Sentence (December 19, 2025): 3 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since September 5, 2024; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Kirov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 15, 2024.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Teachers · Anti-war cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
3 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony
Upheld March 31, 2026
Charges
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
- Article 282 part 2 item a, Russian Criminal Code — Incitement of hatred or enmity with the use of violence or the threat of violence
Full wording of the charges
The legal case was brought against the individual due to specific content posted on their VKontakte page. This included two videos and three audio recordings of Ukrainian songs: Mi Rostem (We Are Growing), Zapalimo z Ranku – UKRAЇNA PEREMOZHE (Ukraine Will Win), Zrodilis' mi velikoi godini (We Were Born in the Great Year), and Batko nash Bandera, Ukraina mati (Our Father Is Bandera, Ukraine Is a Mother). Experts from the Investigative Committee claimed that the songs contained "elements that could potentially incite violence against Russians as a national group" and "encouraged the destruction of Russians as a military enemy".
Latest event
March 31, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 15, 2024
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
TDF of the Department of Internal Affairs of the South Administrative District of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow
· Persecution begins
Aleksandr Nesterenko's case about Ukrainian songs
Criminal case
Aleksandr Nesterenko's case about Ukrainian songs
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Kirov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
610004, Кировская область, г. Киров, ул. Мопра, д.1.,, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Кировской области, Нестеренко Александр Николаевич, 1963 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Moscow, Associate Professor of the Department of Philosophy at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, PEC member with the right to casting vote. On 3 September 2024, he was searched in a case of incitement to hatred, after which he was interrogated and released in the status of a witness. However, on 5 September it became known that Nesterenko was a suspect in the case because of the publication of five Ukrainian songs in "VKontakte". On 7 September, he was taken into custody. Later it became known that he is also accused of calling for extremism. Nesterenko claims that he did not upload the songs to his page, but only saved what others had posted.
On 19 December 2025, Nesterenko was sentenced to three years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.