Sergei Ofitserov
Sergei Ofitserov, born 1976, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in a terrorist community); Article 361 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code; “The case of the nine”. Sentence (January 30, 2026): 3 years' imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony, with a ban on engaging in activities related to the leadership… Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 30, 2026.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea, Occupied territory of Khersonska oblast · Simferopol · Former military personnel · Terrorism cases
Sentence
18 years
3 years' imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony, with a ban on engaging in activities related to the leadership of and participation in the work of public religious organisations for 4 years
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in a terrorist community
- Article 361 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he participated in a terrorist community created by SBU officers. From March to August 2022, he carried out surveillance of places of visit and routes of employees of the occupation administration of the Kherson region and Russian military personnel "for the further commission of acts of international terrorism." In July 2022, together with another person prosecuted in the case, Sergei Kovalskii, they "at least twice" attempted to detonate a mine by remote control while the deputy head of the administration, Vitalii Buliuk, was travelling in his car accompanied by servicemen of the Russian Federation, for which purpose they placed a Chevrolet Lacetti along the official's route, but the explosions did not take place "due to technical reasons."
Latest event
January 30, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 18 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 30, 2026
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 18 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of the nine
Criminal case
The case of the nine
- Case number
- 1-10/2026 (1-38/2025; 1-133/2024; 1-354/2023;)
Other defendants in the case
- Oleg Bogdanov — Imprisoned, 18 years
- Sergei Geidt — Imprisoned, 17 years
- Sergey Kabakov — Imprisoned, 20 years
- Iurii Kaev — Imprisoned, 14 years
- Sergei Kovalskii — Imprisoned, 14 years
- Denis Lialka — Imprisoned, 14 years
- Konstantin Reznik — Imprisoned, 20 years
- Iurii Tavozhnianskii — Imprisoned, 18 years
Thematic group: The case of the attempted murder of the employees of the military-civil administration of Kherson region
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Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Kherson (Ukraine), former serviceman, specialist in door installation. On 3 August 2022, he was detained in his father's flat, beaten, taken to the basement, and tortured with electric shocks. According to another person prosecuted in the case, Yurii Kaev, Ofitserov was kept hanging from a grate for five days. On 6 October 2022, he was transported to Simferopol, where he was charged with an attempt to commit an act of international terrorism and participation in a terrorist community. According to the case materials, he was detained on 6 October at the FSS building in Simferopol. It is not explained how he got there from Kherson, having only a driving licence. Ofitserov noted at the trial that he signed all the papers he was given, including the refusal to call a relative. On 30 January 2026, he was sentenced to 17 years in a strict regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.