Vasilii Pavlov
Vasilii Pavlov, born 1994, Belgorod Oblast. Charges: Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 275, Russian Criminal Code (Treason against the state); “Vasilii Pavlov's case of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization and on treason”. Sentence (December 10, 2024): 16 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 9, 2023; place of detention: Prison, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 30, 2025.
In brief
Belgorod Oblast · Belgorod · Students · Terrorism cases
Sentence
16 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty
Upheld October 15, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, Pavlov, being an opponent of the SVO (special military operation), decided to join the Ukrainian paramilitary association The Freedom of Russia Legion, which is a terrorist organization. No later than 20 November 2023, for this purpose, Pavlov entered into correspondence in the messenger Telegram with its representative, an unidentified person with the account "Myron S.". In order to participate in the activities of the Freedom of Russia Legion, on the instructions of "Miron S." Pavlov designed and produced leaflets "propagandizing the activities of The Freedom of Russia Legion and urging to join this organization". It is also known that they contained a QR code with a link to The Freedom of Russia Legion website. "In the period from 30 October to 20 November 2023 he collected information about the location of an anti-aircraft missile division of one of the military units", after which at 16:13 on 21 November 2023 he passed the collected information to "Miron S.". On 8 December 2023, he placed several leaflets in mailboxes, after which he was detained by the FSB officers.
Latest event
November 30, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 30, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 16 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №3 (SIZO-3) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Belgorod Oblast
· Persecution begins
Vasilii Pavlov's case of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization and on treason
Criminal case
Vasilii Pavlov's case of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization and on treason
- Case number
- 1-247/2024
Write a letter
Facility: Prison, Chelyabinsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
457670, ул. Северная д.1, Челябинская область, г. Верхнеуральск, ФКУ «Тюрьма ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области», Павлов Василий Михайлович, 1994 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Belgorod, a postgraduate student at the Journalism Department of Belgorod State University. On 8 December 2023, he was detained. According to the criminal case, before that he had placed leaflets of the Freedom of Russia Legion in the mailboxes of one of the houses in Belgorod. However, after searching Pavlov's apartment, he was detained as part of an administrative case. The report stated that he was found in a state of drug intoxication in the village of Dubovoye 15 kilometers from the city, but he refused to undergo a medical examination. On 9 December, the court arrested him for 12 days under Article 20.20 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Later, Pavlov told the court that he had been in the custody of the FSS officers since 8 December and had been subjected to torture and pressure. On 22 December 2023, he was remanded in custody on a criminal case of participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation. His relatives said that there were visible signs of violence, bruises and abrasions on his face and hands. The project "Political Prisoners Support. Memorial" claims that the charge of high treason only appeared in the case in November 2024. The case went to court that same month. On 10 December 2024, Pavlov was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.