Grigorii Severin
Grigorii Severin, born 1977, Voronezh Oblast. Charges: Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); Article 319, Russian Criminal Code (Public insult of a government official); “The case of calls for extremism on the Internet”. Sentenced on July 6, 2026; previously convicted under Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code. Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, July 10, 2025.
In brief
Voronezh Oblast · Voronezh · Scientists · Anti-war cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
2 years 9 months
Imprisonment (strict regime)
First instance, August 23, 2022: 2 years
Other verdicts
- February 18, 2026 — 3 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony
Charges
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
- Article 319, Russian Criminal Code — Public insult of a government official
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
Full wording of the charges
The case alleging calls for extremist activity was initiated due to a post made on December 19, 2019. On that date, Evgenii Maniurov opened fire outside the FSB building in Lubyanka. Grigory Severin allegedly wrote on his social media page, "slaughter the gebnya" (a derogatory term for KGB). He pleads not guilty. The case for insulting a representative of the authorities stems from a post with a photo taken during the search of his apartment with the caption: 'We'll break through,' said the condoms".
Latest event
October 20, 2026 — case status changed
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, July 10, 2025
Timeline
· Court ruling
guilty verdict
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Voronezh Region
· Criminal case opened
Grigory Severin's case of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of calls for extremism on the Internet
Criminal case
Grigory Severin's case of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 1-59/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
The case of calls for extremism on the Internet
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Voronezh. PhD student of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, civil activist. He has repeatedly faced pressure from the authorities. In November 2020, he was fined in connection with a solidarity action with residents of Khabarovsk Krai who were protesting against the arrest of the region's ex-governor, Sergey Furgal. In January 2021, Severin was arrested for five days because of a picket in support of Alexei Navalny. The criminal prosecution of Severin became known in February 2021. The reason for arrest was a post on "VKontakte" dated 19 December 2019. On that day, a resident of Podolsk, Evgeny Manyurov, opened fire outside the FSB building on Lubyanka. According to the investigation, Severin allegedly wrote "cut the Chekitsts" on his page under a post about the shooting. He did not admit guilt, saying that he did not write the corresponding comment. In addition, a case of insulting a representative of the authorities was brought against him because on the day of the search he published a photo with the caption "'We'll break through,' said the condoms".
On 23 August 2022, Severin was sentenced to two years in a penal colony. On 5 July 2023, at the request of the colony administration, the court decided to transfer Severin to a general regime colony. The appellate court upheld this decision on 12 December, despite the fact that Severin had already been released on 4 August 2023. However, on 22 August 2023, the court recalculated Severin's time spent under house arrest at the rate of two days of house arrest per day of imprisonment and ordered the released activist to spend another 84 days in the colony. On 14 December 2023, the appellate court reversed this decision and returned the case to the court of first instance. On 19 July 2024, the court again ordered Severin to spend 84 days in the colony. He was again taken into custody, after which he was sent to the colony. On 6 September 2024, Severin was released.
On 22 April 2025, Severin was searched in connection with a case of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces due to conversations with prisoners in the colony about the war. The next day he was taken into custody. On 28 February 2026, Severin was sentenced in this case to three years in a strict regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.