Alexander Shpak
Alexander Shpak, born 1979, Moscow. Charges: Article 205.2 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism); Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Alexander Shpak's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (September 5, 2024): 8 years imprisonment in absentia. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Bloggers · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in absentia
Upheld April 15, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.2 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism
- 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 329, Russian Criminal Code — Desecration of the state symbols of the Russian Federation.
- 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 reason was some publications on Telegram. Before that, Shpak was repeatedly fined under a similar administrative article (part 1 of article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) due to anti-war posts.
Latest event
April 18, 2025 — added to the register of “foreign agents”
Timeline
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Criminal case opened
· Criminal case opened
Alexander Shpak's case of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Alexander Shpak's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Alexander Shpak's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0526/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Alexander Shpak's case of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
A bodybuilder and blogger who relocated to Türkiye in 2022, Mr. Shpak has faced several administrative fines for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and for drawing comparisons between the actions of the USSR and Nazi Germany. In January 2024, he was declared wanted and arrested in absentia on charges of disseminating false information about the Armed Forces. Additional cases were brought against him in March 2024 for further discrediting the military, and in August 2024 for abusing state symbols after posting a video in which he burned his Russian passport. On 5 September 2024, Mr. Shpak was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for disseminating false information.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
- Persecution episodes
- 3
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.