Egor Starshinov
Egor Starshinov, 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 case was initiated over a video in which two schoolchildren discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with portraits of Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler displayed in the background.
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
- Kirill Smirnov — 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», Старшинов Егор Алексеевич, 2006 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Nizhny Novgorod, schoolboy. In November 2023, an administrative protocol was filed against him under Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences (discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) after he appeared in a video discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine with a friend. The court decision on this case was apparently not issued, and in August 2024 it became known that a criminal case was opened against the young man for dissemination of deliberately false information about the Armed Forces. On 15 August, the young man was given a measure of restriction in the form of a ban on certain activities. On 10 April 2025 Starshinov was sentenced to two and a half years in a general regime penal 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.