Grigory Sverdlin
Grigory Sverdlin, born 1978. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Grigory Sverdlin’s case”. Sentence (September 9, 2025): 6 years imprisonment in a general regime colony in absentia. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Human rights defenders · Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony in absentia
Upheld February 17, 2026
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
According to Mediazona, the case was based on Sverdlin's post of 3 April 2022 on VKontakte, in which he wrote about the killings of civilians in Bucha.
Latest event
February 17, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
Criminal case
Grigory Sverdlin’s case
- Case number
- 01-0538/2025
Details and sources
Full summary
Head of the project "Go to the Forest", former director of Nochlezhka. On 17 November 2023 he was included in the register of "foreign agents". In November 2023, he was declared wanted.
On 1 July 2025, a criminal case against Sverdlin was brought to court under the article on spreading "fakes" about the Russian army with a hate motive. The reason for the prosecution was his post of 3 April 2022 on VKontakte, in which he wrote about the killings of civilians in Bucha.
On 9 September, a court sentenced Sverdlin in absentia to six years in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.