Vakhtangi Rogava
Vakhtangi Rogava, born 1993, Saint Petersburg. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “The second case of publicly justifying terrorism in Saint Petersburg”. Sentence (October 22, 2025): 3.5 years’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 1, 2025; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, December 16, 2025.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Saint Petersburg · Artists, Office workers · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
3 years 6 months
3.5 years’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony
First instance, July 23, 2025: 4 years 6 months
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
According to investigators, he left “approving comments under posts about the ‘achievements’ of the ‘Russian Volunteer Corps’ (RVC) terrorist organization in battles against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” SOTAvision reported that in court the prosecution presented one comment left by Rogava: “What are you all talking about, are you kidding? Those Russians no longer exist; only a small number remain, among whom a small percentage of normal people have miraculously survived, such as the RVC.”
Latest event
December 16, 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, December 16, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The second case of publicly justifying terrorism in Saint Petersburg
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The second case of publicly justifying terrorism in Saint Petersburg
- Case number
- 2-52/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
196641, Санкт-Петербург,поселок Металлострой, Северный проезд, 1, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области», Рогава Вахтанги Вахтангиевич, 1993 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of St. Petersburg. He studied at the Institute of Film and Television, worked as an extra in films, and later became an advertising professional, working at KudaGo. In March 2025, a criminal case was opened against him for publicly justifying terrorism over a comment in the "WESTERLY" Telegram channel, in which he spoke approvingly of the "Russian Volunteer Corps" (RVC): “What are you all talking about, are you kidding? Those Russians no longer exist; there is only a small number left, among which a small percentage of normal people have miraculously survived, such as the RVC.” On March 27, he was taken into custody.
On July 23, 2025, the court sentenced him to three and a half years in a general-regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.