Evgenii Pinchuk (hieromonk Nikandr)
Evgenii Pinchuk (hieromonk Nikandr), born 1971, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Hieromonk Nikandr's case of public justification of terrorism”, opened on October 1, 2025. Sentenced on October 14, 2026; previously convicted under Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 8, 2026.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · Verkhoturye · Religious figures · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
7 years
Imprisonment (general regime)
First instance, March 10, 2026: 5 years 6 months
Other verdicts
- October 17, 2022 — a fine in the amount of 100,000 roubles
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The reason was the comment where the founder of the "Russian Volunteer Corps", Denis Nikitin, was called "a cool guy" and was given respect.
Latest event
October 20, 2026 — case status changed
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 8, 2026
Timeline
· Court ruling
guilty verdict
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Criminal case opened
Hieromonk Nikandr's case of public justification of terrorism
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Sverdlovsk Oblast
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Persecution ends
· Persecution begins
Hieromonk Nikadr's case of discrediting the Russian army in Verkhoturye
Criminal case
Hieromonk Nikandr's case of public justification of terrorism
- Case number
- 2-230/2026
Hieromonk Nikadr's case of discrediting the Russian army in Verkhoturye
- Case number
- 1-184/2022
Thematic group: Anti-war case
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Details and sources
Full summary
A clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Of Russia under the omophorion of Metropolitan Agafangel (a breakaway church that does not recognise the authority of the Moscow Patriarchate). In June 2022, a case was brought against Nikandr for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces because he called the actions of the Russian military "an invasion". On 17 October 2022, he was sentenced to a fine of 100,000 rubles.
On 17 October 2025, Nikandr was taken into custody on a criminal case on public justification of terrorism. He called the founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps, Denis Nikitin, "a cool guy" and expressed "respect" to him. On 10 March 2026, the cleric was sentenced to five and a half years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.