Maxim Smyshlyaev
- Criminal Code
- Article 205.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
- Case category
- Terrorism cases
- Verdict
- Imprisonment (strict regime)
- Sentence
- 10 years
- Date of verdict
- 2017-08-10
- Region
- Rostov Oblast
- City
- Rostov-on-Don
Case summary
In April 2016, Maxim Smyshlyaev's flat was searched, followed by a confrontation between him and Artur Panov, who is accused in the case of preparing a terrorist attack. Smyshlyaev was arrested. On 20 May, he was charged with complicity on the basis of correspondence and personal communication with the minor Panov, who suggested him to commit a terrorist act. Smyshlyaev claims that he dissuaded Panov from carrying out the plot. The investigation believes that Smyshlyaev told Panov how to make a bomb at home. Smyshlyaev claims that during the search he was planted with programme documents of the "Red Army Faction", of which Panov considers himself a follower, and materials for making explosives, which became the basis for his detention
During the investigation, Smyshlyaev's friend Yulia Milova was pressurised, threatened and intimidated. Rosbalt correspondent Dmitry Remizov was demanded to testify against Smyshlyaev. He was also threatened and used physical force.
On 11 August 2017, Smyshlyaev was sentenced to ten years in a strict regime colony. He was released in April 2026.
Others charged under Article 205.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
What we write about political persecution
Recent material from this section. This is section navigation — the articles below are not about this person.
- 2026-09-04Georgia court clears extradition of Fugal ally to Russia
- 2026-09-04Russia labels Novaya Gazeta a 'foreign agent,' adds over 100 affiliated names
- 2026-09-04Russian court sentences hostage-takers from Rostov detention center to up to 29 years
- 2026-09-04Two Yabloko Duma candidates detained in Moscow two days before vote
- 2026-09-03British man says Russian police beat him, jumped on his head at station in Yessentuki
Source: this person’s record in the OVD-Info political persecution database
Published under CC BY 3.0. The criteria for treating a person as politically persecuted belong to OVD-Info; FACTUM relays their assessment and makes none of its own.
OVD-Info has been designated an «extremist» organisation in Russia — by decision of the Russian authorities, like other independent human rights and media projects.