Svetlana Petriichuk
Svetlana Petriichuk, born 1980, Moscow. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “The case of Finist, Yasniy Sokol ("Finist, the Brave Falcon")”. Sentence (August 19, 2025): 5 years and 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since May 4, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Moscow Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 27, 2023.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow, Saint Petersburg · Artists · Terrorism cases
Sentence
5 years 10 months
5 years and 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony
First instance, July 8, 2024: 6 years
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
The reason for the case was Zhenya Berkovich's play "Finist Yasniy Sokol" ("Finist, the Brave Falcon"), staged in 2020, based on Petriichuk's play about women who cast their lot with radical Islamists. According to the wording of the appeal court ruling, Petriichuk was also found guilty of posting a video of the play reading on the Internet.
Latest event
August 19, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, September 27, 2023
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of Finist, Yasniy Sokol ("Finist, the Brave Falcon")
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
TDF of the Department of Internal Affairs of the North-Eastern Administrative District of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow
Criminal case
The case of Finist, Yasniy Sokol ("Finist, the Brave Falcon")
- Case number
- 1-92/2024
Other defendants in the case
- Evgenia Berkovich — Imprisoned, 5 years 7 months
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Moscow Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
143202 Московская область, Можайский р-н, п. им. Дзержинского, д.1, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН по Московской области», Петрийчук Светлана Александровна, 1980 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Petriichuk is a playwright, author of the play "Finist Yasniy Sokol" ("Finist, the Brave Falcon") about women who cast their lot with radical Islamists. The play became the reason for a case of public justification of terrorism. On 4 May 2023 Petriichuk was detained at the airport, the next day she was taken into custody. On 31 May 2024 it became known that Petriichuk was registered as prone to terrorism and extremism. On 13 June 2024, the court closed the trial, satisfied the prosecution's demand. The prosecutor claimed that one of the witnesses who had appeared in court earlier had been receiving threats. On 8 July 2024, Petriichuk was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony. On 25 December 2024, the court of appeal reduced the sentence by two months.
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.