Mikhail Sbeglov
Mikhail Sbeglov, born 1993, Kemerovo Oblast. Charges: Article 208 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Preparation for participation in an illegal armed group); “Mikhail Sbeglov's case of preparation to participate in an illegal armed group.”. Sentence (March 14, 2023): 4 years 6 months' imprisonment in a strict regime (penal) colony, 1 year 6 months' imprisonment. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since May 13, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 41, Kemerovo Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 14, 2025.
In brief
Kemerovo Oblast · Kemerovo · Office workers
Sentence
4 years 6 months
imprisonment in a strict regime (penal) colony, 1 year 6 months' imprisonment
Upheld January 9, 2024
Charges
- Article 208 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Preparation for participation in an illegal armed group
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "guided by the motive of ideological enmity towards supporters of the foreign and domestic policy of the Russian Federation, realising the intention to participate in hostilities against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as part of the armed formation 'Legion of Freedom of Russia' operating in the territory of the Republic of Ukraine and not recognized by law of this state, i.e. an illegal armed formation", contacted in the messenger Telegram with "the administrator of the channel 'Legion of Freedom of Russia' under the nickname 'Oleg'". 18 April 2022, received the Legion's questionnaire digitally from "Oleg" and filled it out on 24 April. On 28 April, wrote to "Oleg" that in May 2022 he would cross the state border of Russia and apply to the Ukrainian Embassy in Kazakhstan. On 7 May he bought a ticket for a shuttle bus on the route Novosibirsk - Nur-Sultan (Astana) with a departure date of 15 May 2022.
Latest event
November 14, 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, November 14, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Mikhail Sbeglov's case of preparation to participate in an illegal armed group.
Criminal case
Mikhail Sbeglov's case of preparation to participate in an illegal armed group.
- Case number
- 2-17/2023 (2-49/2022;)
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 41, Kemerovo Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
652059, Кемеровская область, г. Юрга, ул. Окрайная, д. 1, ИК-41, ФКУ «ИК № 41 ГУФСИН России по Кемеровской области», Сбеглов Михаил Сергеевич, 1993 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Kemerovo. He spoke out against the war, put up anti-war leaflets. On 13 May 2022, he was detained and arrested on the next day for 5 days under the administrative article on disorderly conduct (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). At the end of the arrest term, he was detained and taken into custody under a criminal case on preparation for participation in an illegal armed formation, namely the "Freedom of Russia Legion". On 14 March 2023, Sbeglov was sentenced to 4,5 years in a strict regime (penal) colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 208 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.