Andrei Serafimov
Andrei Serafimov, born 1998, Tomsk Oblast. Charges: Article 280.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for activities against state security (by a group, using official position, mass media…); “The case of Andrei Serafimov about calls for activity against Russian security”. Sentenced on August 19, 2026. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Tomsk Oblast · Tomsk · Journalists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
4 years 6 months
Imprisonment (in absentia)
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 280.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for activities against state security (by a group, using official position, mass media, or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
Serafimov himself suggests that the reason for the prosecution could have been the calls not to go to military enlistment centres in his social networks.
Latest event
August 19, 2026 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 4 years 6 months.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
The case of Andrei Serafimov about calls for activity against Russian security
Criminal case
The case of Andrei Serafimov about calls for activity against Russian security
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
In 2018-2019, he was a functionary of the Tomsk branch of the Young Guard of United Russia, then he co-operated with independent media. He is also the author of a telegram channel "Ulitsa Barkhatnaya" about what is happening in Tomsk. In December 2023, it became known that a case was opened against Serafimov for calls for activities against the security of the Russian Federation. His relatives in Russia were twice visited by law enforcers for questioning. Later they were summoned for interrogation. In addition, the police visited Tomsk State University, where Serafimov studies.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 280.4 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.