October 20, 2026, 8:56 AMRSSRU

Maxim Panfilov

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Maxim Panfilov, born 1985, Moscow. Charges: Article 212 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in mass riots); Article 212 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 1, Article 33 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Incitement to prepare to take part in mass riots); Article 318 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Use of non-dangerous violence against a government official); “Maksim Panfilov's case”. Sentence (March 28, 2017): To be sent for compulsory psychiatric treatment. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, April 11, 2016; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 9, 2016.

In brief

Moscow · Moscow · Unemployed · Cases related to mass actions

Sentence

To be sent for compulsory psychiatric treatment.

Verdict March 28, 2017

No information about an appeal ruling.

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation, he used violence against special forces (OMON) soldier Vladimir Filippov at the action on 6 May 2012: standing behind him, he grabbed his helmet with two hands and then tore it off the officer's head, thereby causing him physical suffering.

Latest event

February 2, 2018 — imprisonment ends

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Imprisonment ends

  2. · Persecution ends

  3. · First-instance verdict

  4. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial Human Rights Centre

  5. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners

  6. · Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility

    TDF No. 1 of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow

Criminal case

Maksim Panfilov's case

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Thematic group: Bolotnaya case

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

On 7 April 2016, Panfilov was deceitfully detained (the local police officer came to the apartment of his 70-year-old grandmother, who lived separately, and took her to his grandson's apartment under the pretext that the police needed to talk to him in connection with a complaint from neighbors) and taken to Moscow. Relatives were informed that Panfilov was suspected of participating in mass riots, allegedly occurring on Bolotnaya Square on 6 May 2012, and using violence against police officer Vladimir Filippov, expressed in forcibly removing his helmet. Lawyers were not informed of Panfilov's whereabouts, and when his location was discovered, they were initially denied access. He was interrogated first without legal representation, and later with an appointed lawyer. The investigator announced that Panfilov had partially admitted guilt, although he only confirmed that he was at Bolotnaya Square and at some point he found himself holding a helmet. He did not admit guilt in any actions implied by interrogators. One of the grounds for his detention was the large number of administrative offenses committed by Panfilov - primarily related to drinking alcohol in inappropriate places. On 8 April, the court ordered his detention.

In October, it became known that as a result of a psychiatric examination at the Serbsky Centre, Panfilov was declared legally insane. On 31 October, the court decided to send him to a psychiatric hospital.

On 29 March 2017, the court decided to subject Maxim Panfilov to compulsory psychiatric treatment.

On 15 January 2018 the medical commission of the Astrakhan Regional Psychiatric Hospital concluded that Panfilov was not a danger to society and recommended releasing him home. On January 22, the Kirovsky District Court of Astrakhan decided to replace Panfilov's compulsory inpatient treatment with outpatient treatment and release him from the hospital. On 2 February Panfilov was released home.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Sources (2)

Other people prosecuted under Article 212 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

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