Kirill Smirnov
Kirill Smirnov, born 2006, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item b, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “The case of Nizhny Novgorod schoolboys regarding "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces.”. Sentence (April 10, 2025): 2 years 6 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 1, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 16, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 11, 2025.
In brief
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast · Nizhny Novgorod · Students · Anti-war cases
Sentence
2 years 6 months
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony
Upheld March 25, 2026
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item b, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (using an official position, a group of individuals, falsification of evidence, for selfish motives, or out of hatred)
Full wording of the charges
The reason for initiating the case was a video in which two schoolboys discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine; in the background, they placed portraits of Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler.
Latest event
March 25, 2026 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 11, 2025
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Persecution begins
The case of Nizhny Novgorod schoolboys regarding "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces.
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
The case of Nizhny Novgorod schoolboys regarding "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces.
- Case number
- 1-445/2024
Other defendants in the case
- Egor Starshinov — Imprisoned, 2 years 6 months
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 16, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
606246, Нижегородская область, Лысковский район, с. Просек, улица заводская д.50, ФКУ «ИК № 16 ГУФСИН России по Нижегородской области», Смирнов Кирилл Эдуардович, 2006 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Nizhny Novgorod, a school student. In November 2023, an administrative protocol was drawn up against him under the Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation due to a video recording, in which he and a friend discussed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It appears that no decision was made on the case, and in August 2024, it became known that a criminal case had been opened against him for spreading knowingly false information about the Armed Forces. On August 15, a restriction was imposed on him in the form of a ban on certain actions. On April 10, 2025, Smirnov was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment in a general-regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item b, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.