Valeria Ratnikova
Valeria Ratnikova, born 1999, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Valeria Ratnikova's case on military 'fakes' and evasion of fulfillment of the duties of a "foreign agent."”. Sentence (March 24, 2026): 7 years and 6 months' imprisonment in absentia, a 4-year ban on administering web pages. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Journalists · Anti-war cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
7 years 6 months
7 years and 6 months' imprisonment in absentia, a 4-year ban on administering web pages.
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, the defendant posted publications in one of the messengers for an unlimited number of people, which, ostensibly, contained knowingly false information about the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine.
Latest event
March 24, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 7 years 6 months.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Valeria Ratnikova's case on military 'fakes' and evasion of fulfillment of the duties of a "foreign agent."
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
Criminal case
Valeria Ratnikova's case on military 'fakes' and evasion of fulfillment of the duties of a "foreign agent."
- Case number
- 01-0125/2026
Thematic group: Anti-war case; The case of TV Rain employees
Details and sources
Full summary
Journalist, anchor of the Dozhd TV channel. In 2022, she left Russia after the start of the invasion of Ukraine. In July 2025, a case was brought against her for spreading "fakes" about the Russian army with a hate motive and evasion of fulfillment of the duties of a "foreign agent." The charge of "fakes" is related to certain publications about the Russian army's crimes against civilians in Ukraine.
On 22 December 2023, the Ministry of Justice included Ratnikova in the "foreign agents" registry. In 2025, she was twice fined under administrative protocols for failure to fulfil the "foreign agent" obligations.
On 24 March 2026, the journalist was sentenced in absentia to seven and a half years on charges of "fakes." The status of the case on evasion of fulfilment of the duties of a "foreign agent" remains unknown.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.