Alexander Plotnikov
Alexander Plotnikov, born 1985, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Alexander Plotnikov's case of public justification of terrorism”. Sentence (October 10, 2024): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since July 1, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 8, Chelyabinsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 10, 2025.
In brief
Chelyabinsk Oblast · Chelyabinsk · Artists · Terrorism cases
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony
Upheld May 14, 2025
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 case was initiated because of a comment with the text "At last! At least someone has taken care of the bandits with shoulder marks", left under a video from 23 June 2024 with footage of terrorists shooting at Makhachkala and Derbent. "Plotnikov acted out of persistent antipathy and sharp dislike regarding the activities of government bodies and representatives to ensure the security of the Russian Federation," the verdict reads. The court found the writing of the commentary during mobilisation to be an aggravating circumstance.
Latest event
June 10, 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, June 10, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Alexander Plotnikov's case of public justification of terrorism
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №7 (SIZO-7) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation
Criminal case
Alexander Plotnikov's case of public justification of terrorism
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 8, Chelyabinsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
454006, Челябинская обл., г. Челябинск, ул. Северная, 2а, ФКУ «ИК № 8 ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области», Плотников Александр Иванович, 1985 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Chelyabinsk, practiced painting, restoration and tattooing. In the 1990s, according to his wife, he considered himself an ultra-right-wing skinhead. In 2005, he was sentenced to seven years and two months in a penal colony on charges of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm, causing the death of the victim by negligence, inflicting minor harm to health, and gang robbery. He served five and a half years before being released on parole. According to his wife, Plotnikov did not commit any violent crimes after that.
From 2013 to 2021, Plotnikov participated in protest actions. He was brought to administrative responsibility because of a graffiti in support of prisoners of conscience, a song saved in "VKontakte" (article 20.29 of the Administrative Code), a photo of a tattoo similar to Nazi symbols in a tattoo portfolio (part 1 of article 20.3 of the Administrative Code), participation in an unsanctioned action (part 5 of article 20.2 of the Administrative Code).
In addition, both he and his wife were fined 10 thousand rubles under the article on incitement to hatred (article 20.3.1 of the CAO) because of some comments in "VKontakte". In October 2021, their flat was searched. A criminal case for incitement to hatred was brought against Plotnikov following a comment that insulted Roma people. He was given two years' suspended sentence. After completing his suspended sentence, he planned to emigrate, both due to persecution and because he disagreed with the attack on Ukraine.
On 15 July 2024, Plotnikov was detained while going to work. When he was brought home to be searched, he told his wife he had been tortured with a stun gun for several hours. Plotnikov was then sent to custody under the article on public justification of terrorism. The reason was a comment under a video dated 23 June with footage of terrorists shooting at Makhachkala and Derbent. On 10 October 2024, Plotnikov was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony. The court recognised the writing of a comment during mobilisation as an aggravating circumstance.
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.