Vera Nikolaeva
Vera Nikolaeva, Moscow. Charges: Article 243.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Destruction or damage to war graves or memorials with aggravating circumstances); “The case of the spray painting on the monument to Zhukov”. Sentence (August 26, 2024): 1 year of community work. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 19, 2025.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Medical workers
Sentence
1 year of community work
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 243.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Destruction or damage to war graves or memorials with aggravating circumstances
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, she wrote 'GUR' (Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine) with spray paint on the monument to commander Georgii Zhukov.
Latest event
September 10, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 19, 2025
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Persecution begins
The case of the spray painting on the monument to Zhukov
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
The case of the spray painting on the monument to Zhukov
Other defendants in the case
- Anastasia Lysenkova — At large
Details and sources
Full summary
Nikolaeva is a resident of Mytishchi (Moscow region). On June 4, 2024, she and Anastasia Lysenkova were detained in Moscow after they had painted "GUR" (Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine) on a monument to commander Georgii Zhukov on Manezhnaya Square in Moscow. Nikolaeva and Lysenkova said that they were in urgent need of money to pay back their loans and thus were persuaded by phone scammers to commit this act. Nikolaeva was taken into custody. On June 26, 2024, the measure of restraint was changed to house arrest. On August 26, Nikolaeva was sentenced to a year of community work. In September 2025, she has presumably served her sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 243.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.