Aleksei Sobolev
Aleksei Sobolev, born 2000, Komi Republic. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); “Aleksei Sobolev's case of the public justification of terrorism”. Sentence (April 2, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, 3 years' prohibition to engage in activities related to administration… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 28, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 20, Vologda Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 14, 2026.
In brief
Komi Republic · Ukhta · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, 3 years' prohibition to engage in activities related to administration of websites or channels using the electronic or telecommunication networks, including the Internet
Upheld September 1, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
The case is based on two comments on YouTube and two on Telegram, published in February and August 2024. On YouTube, Sobolev, according to the investigation, left comments under the videos of the opposition channel "Popular Politics" and the channel "Bobochon 88", which is run by a native of Tajikistan who took part in the war on the side of Russia. The first commentary says that "the russian army and putin are Nazis and Z-tniks are Nazis too"; the second commentary says "Yes Ukraine is defending itself from Russian fascists, Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the RVC". On 12 and 13 August 2024, the ruling on the initiation of the case says, Sobolev left comments on the "Nightingale Litter" Telegram channel. In one post, he wrote "Glory to Ukraine. Go the RVC. Long Live Balarus. White people forward and Putin is a di***." In another, "Why not? Azov is power."
Latest event
January 14, 2026 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 14, 2026
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Komi Republic
· Persecution begins
Aleksei Sobolev's case of the public justification of terrorism
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Aleksei Sobolev's case of the public justification of terrorism
- Case number
- 2-17/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 20, Vologda Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
162840, Вологодская область, г. Устюжна, ул. Карла Маркса, д. 57, ИК-20, ФКУ «ИК № 20 УФСИН России по Вологодской области», Соболев Алексей Денисович, 2000 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of the village of Nizhny Odes (Komi). He was detained on 28 August 2024 after a search in his home. On 31 August, the court remanded him in custody in the case of public justification of terrorism because of four comments about the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Azov Battalion. During the court hearings on Sobolev's case it became known that his father died in the war. He went to the front, hoping that in this way it would be possible to achieve a mitigation of his son's sentence. On 2 April 2024, Sobolev was sentenced to 6 years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.