Viacheslav Samusev
Viacheslav Samusev, born 1987, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Viacheslav Samusev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (November 7, 2024): A fine of 1 million rubles (approximately US$13,000); to be exempted from the execution of the penalty due to the… Status: at large.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Drivers · Anti-war cases
Sentence
2 years
A fine of 1 million rubles (approximately US$13,000); to be exempted from the execution of the penalty due to the expiration of the statute of limitations
First instance, September 3, 2024: 2 years
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
Full wording of the charges
The case was triggered by posts on "VKontakte" in which the author accused Putin and the Russian army of killing civilians in Ukraine. This case was later merged with another case against Samusev concerning public justification of terrorism. The charges under this article were reportedly based on "VKontakte" posts in which Samusev expressed support for the Ukrainian "Azov Regiment" and called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the investigation later, in its own formulation, partially dropped the criminal prosecution under this article.
Latest event
November 7, 2024 — appeal
The court changed the sentence to 2 years.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed, released from serving the sentence · 2 years
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict, released from serving the sentence · 2 years
· Persecution ends
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Viacheslav Samusev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Viacheslav Samusev's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0571/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
A driver with "Mosgortrans", — Moscow’s public transport operator. A criminal case was opened against him on charges of publicly justifying terrorism. On 29 August 2023, Samusev was taken into custody. In April 2024, it became known that he was also accused of spreading "fake news" about the Russian Armed Forces. The cases were merged, after which investigators announced — in their own wording — that the criminal prosecution under the article on publicly justifying terrorism had been "partially discontinued". The case was sent to court under a single charge related to "fake news". On 3 September 2024, Samusev was sentenced to two years in a penal settlement but was released from serving the sentence; shortly beforehand, the prosecutor had softened the charges by removing the motive of hatred. On 7 November 2024, an appeals court replaced the sentence with a fine of one million rubles (approximately US$11,000) and again released Samusev from serving the punishment.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.