Viacheslav Popov
Viacheslav Popov, born 1978, Kaliningrad Oblast. Charges: Article 205 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Preparation for a terrorist attack); Article 222.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment or bearing of explosive substances…); Article 223.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal manufacture of explosives); “Viacheslav Popov's case of preparing a terrorist attack in Kaliningrad”. Sentence (July 24, 2023): 8 years 9 months' deprivation of liberty in a strict regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since May 9, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 17, Murmansk Oblast.
In brief
Kaliningrad Oblast · Kaliningrad · Manual workers · Terrorism cases
Sentence
9 years
8 years 9 months' deprivation of liberty in a strict regime colony
First instance, March 29, 2023: 9 years
Charges
- Article 205 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Preparation for a terrorist attack
- Article 222.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment or bearing of explosive substances or explosive devices
- Article 223.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal manufacture of explosives
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, on the instructions of one of the Right Sector leaders, he planned a terrorist attack on 9 May near one of the military units, and then was going to go to Ukraine to fight on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Latest event
July 24, 2023 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 9 years.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 9 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 9 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Kaliningrad Oblast
· Persecution begins
Viacheslav Popov's case of preparing a terrorist attack in Kaliningrad
Criminal case
Viacheslav Popov's case of preparing a terrorist attack in Kaliningrad
- Case number
- 1-64/2023
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 17, Murmansk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
183035, Россия, г. Мурманск, ул. Угольная база, 9, ФКУ «ИК № 17 УФСИН России по Мурманской области», Попов Вячеслав Анатольевич, 1978 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Kaliningrad. On 6 May 2022, he was searched at home, after which a video was made public in which Popov says that around 2008 he "got in touch with the commander of the Kaluga branch of the Right Sector, Leonid Butusin". At the same time, as the Novy Kaliningrad edition notes, Right Sector emerged only in 2013, and there were no reports of a branch of the banned organisation in the Kaluga region. Leonid Butusin is the son of Right Sector activist Oleg Butusin, who was killed in Ukraine in April. Popov was taken into custody. He was previously an activist of the Baltic Vanguard of Russian Resistance movement, whose other members were sentenced to real prison terms in 2020 in a case on extremist community activities. Popov's acquaintance Anastasia Nekhaeva, whose flat was inspected as part of the criminal case, claimed in a conversation with Mediazona that he opposed the war, but never said anything about ties with nationalist associations there. Popov himself did not admit guilt at first, but later changed his testimony. On 29 March 2023, he was sentenced to nine years in a strict regime colony. On 24 July, the court of appeal reduced the sentence by three months. In 2025, Popov was informed that he was deprived of Russian citizenship.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
Other people prosecuted under Article 205 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.