October 20, 2026, 10:55 AMRSSRU

Marina Tekin

Not in RussiaChecked October 18, 2026

Marina Tekin, born 1990, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 278, Russian Criminal Code (Violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order); “The case of military service in the Azov regiment”. Sentence (March 26, 2025): 13 years' imprisonment in absentia. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 12, 2024.

In brief

Rostov Oblast · Rostov-on-Don · Cooks · Terrorism cases

Sentence

13 years

imprisonment in absentia

Verdict March 26, 2025

No information about an appeal ruling.

Charges

Latest event

March 26, 2025 — first-instance verdict

The court delivered a guilty verdict: 13 years.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 13 years

  2. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Rostov Region

  3. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  4. · Persecution begins

    The case of military service in the Azov regiment

Criminal case

The case of military service in the Azov regiment

Other defendants in the case

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

From 2020 to 17 March 2022, she served in the Ukrainian special purpose regiment "Azov" as a cook with the military rank of soldier. She was detained on April 25, 2022 in Mariupol. She was accused of participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation and violent seizure and retention of power. Human rights activists noted that she was a prisoner of war, so in fact she should not have been held criminally liable for participation in hostilities, and in addition, consider the charges absurd.

On September13, 2024, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said Tekin had been returned to Ukraine as part of an exchange. On March 26, 2025, she was sentenced in absentia to 13 years in prison.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Ukraine
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 370 under this article →