Artem Sakharov
Artem Sakharov, born 2005, Altai Krai. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries); “Artem Sakharov's case of the discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces and the public justification of terrorism”. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Altai Krai · Barnaul · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
No information about a verdict.
Preventive measure: arrest in absentia since December 30, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
Full wording of the charges
Sakharov's comments on his own post in his personal Telegram channel dated 2 June 2025 approving Operation Spider's Web, an attack by drones on Russian military airfields, became the reason for opening a case of public justification of terrorism. In particular, he is accused of comments such as "Spider's Web, as it has been dubbed", "since when did the destruction of military facilities by a country that is defending itself become terror?", "did the text say anything about a train? it meant strikes on airfields". The accusation of repeated discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces is related to the post of 8 August 2025 in the same Telegram channel about the crimes of the Russian military in Bucha. Before that (21 April 2025) Sakharov was brought to administrative responsibility under the article on discrediting the army (part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code).
Latest event
January 28, 2026 — added to the rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Timeline
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Artem Sakharov's case of the discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces and the public justification of terrorism
Criminal case
Artem Sakharov's case of the discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces and the public justification of terrorism
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Barnaul, participated in anti-war rallies. He left Russia in 2024 - by that time he had already been brought to administrative responsibility four times for anti-war statements and laying flowers after Navalny's death, and law enforcement officials threatened criminal prosecution.
In December 2025, it became known that he was put on a wanted list for repeated discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation and public justification of terrorism.
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.