October 20, 2026, 5:31 PMRSSRU
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Victor Pokusin

At largeChecked October 18, 2026

Victor Pokusin, born 1992, Novosibirsk Oblast. Charges: Article 275.1, Russian Criminal Code (Confidential cooperation with foreigners); “The case of Viktor Pokusin concerning confidential cooperation with foreigners.”. Sentence (August 13, 2024): taking into account the previous sentence - 7 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, deprivation of…; previously convicted under Article 338 part 3, Russian Criminal Code; Article 337 part 2.1, Russian Criminal Code. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted on political grounds, November 16, 2025.

In brief

Novosibirsk Oblast · Military personnel

Sentence

7 years

taking into account the previous sentence - 7 years' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, deprivation of military rank

Verdict August 13, 2024

No information about an appeal ruling.

Other verdicts

  • September 12, 2023 — 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony
  • April 10, 2023 — 1 year of suspended imprisonment

Charges

Full wording of the charges

According to the investigation, being aware of the goals and objectives of the foreign organisation "Legion of Freedom of Russia", recognised by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation as a terrorist organisation, informed of his readiness to commit acts knowingly directed against the security of the Russian Federation, in the form of arson attacks on military recruitment offices, collection of information, distribution of leaflets, destruction of "Z" symbols.

Latest event

October 20, 2026 — case status changed

Became known October 20, 2026 · checked October 18, 2026

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Recognised as persecuted on political grounds

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  2. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  3. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 7 years

  4. · Cassation ruling

    upheld

  5. · Persecution ends

  6. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 6 years

Criminal case

The case of Viktor Pokusin concerning confidential cooperation with foreigners.

Case number
1-85/2024

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

Viktor Pokusin's case of desertion

Case number
1-66/2023

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

The case of Viktor Pokusin regarding failure to report for military service.

Case number
1-17/2023

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

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

A resident of the Novosibirsk region, a contract serviceman. On 30 September 2022, he was detained on charges of failure to report for military service. On 10 April 2023, he was sentenced to a year of probation. After Pokusin again failed to report for military service in June 2023, a case of desertion was opened against him. On 19 June he was detained and then taken into custody. On 12 September 2023, Pokusin was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony. A case of confidential co-operation with foreigners was also brought against him: according to the investigation, he came into contact with representatives of the Russian Freedom Legion. On 13 August 2024, Pokusin was sentenced to seven years in a general regime colony, taking into account his previous sentence.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Persecution episodes
3
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 275.1, Russian Criminal Code

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

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