Alexey Shchus
Alexey Shchus, born 1978, Krasnodar Krai. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); Article 223 part 4, Russian Criminal Code; “A Sochi resident's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (January 17, 2025): 5 years 6 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, ban on the administration of websites for 3 years. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 15, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 9, Krasnodar Krai. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, July 15, 2025.
In brief
Krasnodar Krai · Sochi · Engineers · Anti-war cases
Sentence
5 years 6 months
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, ban on the administration of websites for 3 years
Upheld July 29, 2025
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
- Article 223 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The case was initiated by three posts on VKontakte: about the bombing of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, about the beating of civilians by Russian soldiers in Kherson, and about the fact that the occupants had not had time to dispose of the bodies in temporary burial grounds in Izium. Shchus was also accused of illegal arms manufacturing because of a homemade object found in his possession, which can be used to shoot metal balls through a piston tube by tensioning the bowstring.
Latest event
July 29, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 15, 2025
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Krasnodar Krai
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
A Sochi resident's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
A Sochi resident's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 1-417/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 9, Krasnodar Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
352671, Краснодарский край, Апшеронский район, г. Хадыженск, ул. Грибоедова, д. 42, Хадыженск | ФКУ ИК-9 УФСИН России по Краснодарскому Краю, Щусь Алексей Васильевич, 1978 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Sochi, an engineer. He lost his job several times due to disagreement with the actions of the Russian authorities. On 23 May 2024, a case was brought against him for disseminating deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces. Shchus was forced to sign the undertaking not to leave the place of residence. On 15 of August 2024, he was taken into custody, the charge under the article on the "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces was reclassified to a more serious part, imputing the presence of a political hatred motive, and was also accused of illegal manufacture of weapons: at Shchus' home they found a homemade object that could be used to shoot metal balls through a piston tube by tensioning the bowstring. The expert examination recognised the object as a small throwing weapon. The defence insisted that the strength of the bowstring tension matched the characteristics of bows and crossbows for recreational use. On 17 January 2025, the engineer was sentenced to five and a half years in a general regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.