Vladislav Nikitenko
Vladislav Nikitenko, born 1969, Amur Oblast. Charges: Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries); Article 297 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting participants in judicial proceedings); Article 297 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting participants in the administration of legal proceedings); “Vladislav Nikitenko's case of discrediting the use of the AF in Blagoveshchensk”. Sentence (January 31, 2023): 3 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, a fine of RUB 1,176,506.36, with deprivation of the right to… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 26, 2022.
In brief
Amur Oblast · village of Ivanovka, Blagoveshchensk · Former military personnel, Human rights defenders · Anti-war cases
Sentence
3 years
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, a fine of RUB 1,176,506.36, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to the use of the Internet, except for the possibility of applying to state bodies, for a period of 2 years
Upheld September 25, 2023
Charges
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
- Article 297 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting participants in judicial proceedings
- Article 297 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting participants in the administration of legal proceedings
Full wording of the charges
More than ten posts on social networks that according to the investigation discredited the Russian Armed Forces became the reason for the case; before that, Nikitenko was brought to administrative responsibility under a similar article in connection with the filing of an application demanding a criminal case on the fact of propaganda of aggressive war by the governor of the Amur region, Vasily Orlov. In addition, Nikitenko insulted participants of previous court proceedings and judges of the Blagoveshchensk City Court.
Latest event
May 16, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 26, 2022
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Amur Oblast
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
Vladislav Nikitenko's case of discrediting the use of the AF in Blagoveshchensk
Criminal case
Vladislav Nikitenko's case of discrediting the use of the AF in Blagoveshchensk
- Case number
- 1-10/2023 (1-282/2022;)
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
A civil activist who has been repeatedly persecuted, including for his eccentric and aggressive behaviour. On 24 February 2022, he filed applications to all regional military investigation departments of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation against Vladimir Putin and members of the Security Council, accusing them of unleashing war in Ukraine. Before the criminal case was initiated, Nikitenko was prosecuted under an administrative article on discrediting the use of Russian army (20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and fined 45,000 rubles. On 18 May 2022, information about the initiation of a criminal case appeared. At that moment Nikitenko was serving an administrative arrest under the article on public display of extremist symbols. On 23 May, the court decided to place him under house arrest. On 9 July, Nikitenko was taken into custody for allegedly using a mobile phone. In September, Nikitenko [went on hunger strike](https://ovd.news/express-news/2022/09/14/pravozashchitnik-iz-blagoveshchenska-kotorogo-podozrevayut-v-diskreditacii) due to the extension of his detention.
On 31 January 2023, Nikitenko was sentenced to three years in a penal colony. On 14 June, the court of appeal reduced the term by one month.
In May 2025 he was released from the colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.