Konstantin Seleznev
Konstantin Seleznev, born 1960, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Konstantin Seleznev’s case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (December 15, 2025): 8 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony with a ban on website administration for 3 years. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since October 3, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 6, Moscow Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, October 12, 2023.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Pensioners · Anti-war cases
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony with a ban on website administration for 3 years
First instance, January 27, 2025: 8 years
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)
Full wording of the charges
The grounds for the case were two posts on VKontakte: In one of them, he copied his own letter to the Russian Prosecutor General, in which he talked about a UN report “on the crimes of Russian servicemen in three regions of Ukraine”; in the other he criticised the Russian president for awarding the 53rd Anti-aircraft Brigade the honorary title of “Guards” and mentioned that the servicemen of another brigade, the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade, to which Putin had awarded the same title, were accused of committing mass crimes in Bucha. The letter to the Prosecutor General was later removed from the case.
Latest event
April 1, 2026 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, October 12, 2023
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 8 years
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
Konstantin Seleznev’s case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
TDF of the Department of Internal Affairs of the South Administrative District of the Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow
Criminal case
Konstantin Seleznev’s case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0397/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 6, Moscow Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
140405 Московская область, г. Коломна, мкр. Колычево, Колычевский проезд д. 6, ФКУ «ИК № 6 УФСИН по Московской области», Селезнев Константин Анатольевич, 1960 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Moscow. He was detained on 3 October 2023 after a search and charged with spreading deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces. Seleznev was taken into custody. Before the court hearing on 4 October 2023, Seleznev, who was in a convoy car, started feeling unwell and lost consciousness. An ambulance was called for him, and the doctors recorded that he had high blood pressure (150/90 with the age norm being 90/60). Nevertheless, the hearing took place.
In November 2023, his lawyer reported that Seleznev was subjected to pressure in the pre-trial detention centre: he had not been taken for a walk for a week already, and was kept in a smoky cell with four previously convicted persons, one of whom insulted him. At the same time, according to the law, persons charged with criminal offenses for the first time must be kept separately from those who have already served their sentences in places of detention. Seleznev was later transferred to a regular cell.
In December 2024, Seleznev was reported to be placed in a cell with 22 beds, where about 30 detainees were kept. They had to take turns sleeping.
On 27 January 2025, Seleznev was sentenced to 8 years in a general regime 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.