Maxim Polovnikov
Maxim Polovnikov, born 1992, Krasnoyarsk Krai. 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 public justification of terrorism in Norilsk”. Sentence (April 2, 2024): 2 years of imprisonment. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Krasnoyarsk Krai · Norilsk · Athletes · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
2 years
of imprisonment
Upheld July 17, 2024
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 over comments on VKontakte under videos titled “In Moscow, protesters against the war in Ukraine are being dispersed” and “Just listen to what this terrorist *** is saying.”
Latest event
April 1, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №4 (SIZO-4) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Krasnoyarsk Krai
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of public justification of terrorism in Norilsk
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
The case of public justification of terrorism in Norilsk
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Norilsk. In August 2023, a criminal case was opened against him for public justification of terrorism because of his anti-war comments on VKontakte. Before that, according to a friend, he had problems at work because of his anti-war stance. On 2 April 2024, Polovnikov was sentenced to two years in prison. Before the sentence, he was under a non-deportation undertaking. In April 2026, Polovnikov was released, stripped of his Russian citizenship and deported.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Azeirbajan
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.