Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova
Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova, born 1977, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of…); “Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (September 25, 2025): 10 years' imprisonment in absentia. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Scientists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
10 years
imprisonment in absentia
Upheld December 17, 2025
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, 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)
- Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of individuals or using mass media or the Internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, during the celebration of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, she organised, provided access to and assisted in placing posters on one of the Narva Castle walls. The posters contained an image of the Russian Federation President and inscriptions with inaccurate information about him committing war crimes.
Latest event
December 17, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 10 years
· Persecution begins
Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
Criminal case
Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 2-0074/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Director of the Narva Museum in Estonia. On 9 May 2023, a poster with the text "Putin is a war criminal" in English appeared on the wall of the building. In January 2025 Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova was arrested in absentia in the case of spreading deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces.
According to the investigation, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, during the Victory Day celebrations, she helped to put up posters on one of the Narva Castle walls with Putin's image and inscriptions that he was a war criminal.
On 25 September 2025, Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Estonia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 items b, d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.