Alexei Rozhkov
Alexei Rozhkov, born 1997, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 205 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Terrorist attack); Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Alexei Rozhkov's case”. Sentence (May 20, 2025): 16 years' imprisonment, the first 5 years' in a prison, and the rest in a strict regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 27, 2024.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · Beryozovsky · Musicians, Shop assistants · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
16 years
imprisonment, the first 5 years' in a prison, and the rest in a strict regime penal colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Terrorist attack
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (using an official position, a group of individuals, falsification of evidence, for selfish motives, or out of hatred)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he set a military recruitment centre on fire on the night of 11 March. The reason for the initiating a case of public justification of terrorism was a repost of an interview that Rozhkov gave to the Khodorkovsky LIVE channel. The reason for the initiation of the case of dissemination of deliberately false information about the Armed Forces was the interview itself: according to the investigation, Rozhkov colluded with the presenters of the channel Elena Malakhovskaya and Renat Davletgildeev that during the interview he would call the arson of the military recruitment centre, which he had committed, the right thing to do, and declare that: - the Special Military Operation announced by the President of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin, is in fact a war; - the announcement by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and the conduct of a Special Military Operation by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is Fascism, extermination of Ukrainian citizens, and Nazism; - conscripts were sent not to military drills but to a Special Military Operation; - the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are dropping bombs on people in Ukraine; - the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are depriving people in Ukraine of electricity and food; - the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation commit genocide in Ukraine.
Latest event
May 20, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 16 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, September 27, 2024
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 16 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· 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 Sverdlovsk Oblast
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Sverdlovsk Oblast
· Preventive measure: temporary stay in hospital
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Sverdlovsk Oblast
· Persecution begins
Alexei Rozhkov's case
Criminal case
Alexei Rozhkov's case
- Case number
- 2-85/2024
Thematic group: The case of arson of a military recruitment office in Beryozovsky and of Khodorkovsky Live interview; Anti-war case
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Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of the city of Beryozovsky (Sverdlovsk region). On 24 March 2022, he was taken into custody in a case of attempted murder committed with particular cruelty in a generally dangerous manner out of hooligan motives. The investigation claimed that Rozhkov had set the military recruitment centre on fire, knowing that a female guard was inside. The female guard was not injured, the fire was extinguished, and petrol canisters were found at the young man's home. The policeman who detained Rozhkov claimed that no one was in the building. Then the charge was reclassified to property damage, and the measure of restraint was changed to recognisance not to leave. In November, Rozhkov failed to appear at the first court hearing in his case. Information appeared that he had been missing from the city since 18 November. Rozhkov reported that he left the country. At the end of May 2023, he was taken from Kyrgyzstan to Russia and taken into custody. The trial resumed, but on 5 July the case was sent back for further investigation: there were reports that Rozhkov might face tougher charges. On 31 August, a case was opened against Rozhkov for public justification of terrorism, the reason being Rozhkov's alleged reposting on VKontakte of a video clip of an interview he himself gave to the Khodorkovsky LIVE channel. In October 2023, the charge in connection with arson was reclassified to committing a terrorist act. On 30 December it became known that Rozhkov was accused of spreading military "fakes" by a group of persons by prior conspiracy on the motive of political hatred. The reason was the same interview to the channel "Khodorkovsky LIVE": according to the investigation, Rozhkov had agreed in advance with the hosts of the channel Elena Malakhovskaya and Renat Davletgildeev that on air he would call the arson attack on the military recruitment centre "correct, in need of support and imitation" and would express his opinion on the war, while the hosts would "verbally express their solidarity with Rozhkov, confirming his words". Rozhkov's lawyer was given limited time by the court to familiarise himself with the case.
On 20 May 2025, Rozhkov was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.