Makar Nikolaev
Makar Nikolaev, born 2004, Bashkortostan. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Makar Nikolaev's case on calls to terrorism”. Sentence (May 16, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, February 16, 2026.
In brief
Bashkortostan · Ufa · Students · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, between March and October 2023, he wrote "Heroes of the new Russia" under a Freedom of Russia Legion's post in Instagram, as well as two more comments — under the posts of the Russian Volunteer Corps: "beauties, you are already crushing tanks like peanuts. let them not relax, those Putin's scums" and "Putin's rats are fleeing, judging by Telegram, good luck to you".
Latest event
February 16, 2026 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, February 16, 2026
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Makar Nikolaev's case on calls to terrorism
Criminal case
Makar Nikolaev's case on calls to terrorism
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
623850, Свердловская обл., г. Ирбит, ул. Кирова, д.29а, ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области, Николаев Макар Дмитриевич, 2004 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Ufa. In 2020, when he was a schoolboy, he developed a method of information search to create a nationwide archive dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War. His project won the All-Russian contest "My Country - My Russia", a project of the presidential platform "Russia - a Country of Opportunities".
Later he left to study political science in Germany. In 2024, Nikolaev returned to Russia for the summer holidays, where he was detained. He was prosecuted for calling for terrorism because of his posts in support of Ukraine and the Russian Volunteer Corps. Nikolaev was remanded in custody. On 16 May 2025, he was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony.
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.