Denis Popov
Denis Popov, born 2001, Yaroslavl Oblast. Charges: Article 205 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Attempted terrorist attack); Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); “The case of attempted arson of the military recruitment office in Uglich”. Sentence (February 28, 2023): 8 years’ imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since June 21, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 2, Yaroslavl Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 31, 2025.
In brief
Yaroslavl Oblast · Uglich · Terrorism cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony
Upheld June 21, 2023
Charges
- Article 205 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Attempted terrorist attack
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he tried to set fire to a military recruitment office in Uglich. At the time of his detention, he was found in possession of several Molotov cocktails and leaflets with swastikas. The investigation also claimed that he had called for committing crimes against the participants of the special military operation on social networks and expressed intentions to commit terrorist acts as well as sabotage railroad tracks.
Latest event
January 31, 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, January 31, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Persecution begins
The case of attempted arson of the military recruitment office in Uglich
Criminal case
The case of attempted arson of the military recruitment office in Uglich
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 2, Yaroslavl Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
152914, Ярославская обл., г. Рыбинск, ул. Целинная, д.50, ФКУ «ИК № 2 УФСИН России по Ярославской области», Попов Денис Александрович, 2001 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He is a resident of Uglich. He was detained in July 2022 on charges of attempting to commit a terrorist act by setting fire to a military recruitment office. After his detention, an operational video was published in which Popov said that he acted on the instructions of “Ukrainian servicemen” whom he met on the Internet and planned to also commit sabotage on the railways on their instructions. Popov was also charged with calls for extremism because he had called for violence against members of United Russia. He was taken into custody. At his trial, he claimed that the arson was instigated by an operative with whom he had been communicating in the Freedom of Russia Legion chat room on Telegram, without knowing who he was. On 13 March 2023, Popov was sentenced to eight years in a strict regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.