Vitalii Torochkov
Vitalii Torochkov, born 1984, Vologda Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 222.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment, or carrying of explosives or…); Article 223.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal manufacture of explosives (by prior conspiracy)); “The case of Vitalii Torochkov and Polina Roots concerns the public justification of terrorism, and the manufacture and possession of explosives”. Sentence (June 8, 2023): 13 years' deprivation of liberty in a strict regime colony, deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since October 26, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 1, Arkhangelsk Oblast.
In brief
Vologda Oblast · Vologda · Drivers · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
13 years
deprivation of liberty in a strict regime colony, deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to the administration of websites for a period of 3 years, and a fine of 350,000 roubles
Upheld October 26, 2023
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 222.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment, or carrying of explosives or explosive devices committed by an organized group of people
- Article 223.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal manufacture of explosives (by prior conspiracy)
Full wording of the charges
The reason for Torochkov's prosecution was a video titled "Russian Passport - Shame and Stigma!", published on Telegram and VKontakte. In it, Torochkov burns his Russian passport and wishes death upon Putin. The video was published in the early days of the war, and at the beginning of the video, Torochkov says that his friend died in Ukraine.
Latest event
October 26, 2023 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 13 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of Vitalii Torochkov and Polina Roots concerns the public justification of terrorism, and the manufacture and possession of explosives
Criminal case
The case of Vitalii Torochkov and Polina Roots concerns the public justification of terrorism, and the manufacture and possession of explosives
Other defendants in the case
- Polina Roots — Imprisoned, 9 years
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 1, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
163050, Архангельская область, г. Архангельск, ул. Пирсовая, 27, ФКУ «ИК № 1 УФСИН России по Архангельской области», Торочков Виталий Викторович, 1984 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Cherepovets. Torochkov and his wife, Polina Roots, have five children, but they were stripped of their parental rights at the request of Roots' mother, who was granted custody of the four older children. The youngest child, an infant girl, was placed in a foster family. The couple maintained a blog titled "How and Why Children Are Taken Away in Russia." They publicly renounced their Russian citizenship and declared that they would use Soviet-era documents. In September 2022, Torochkov and Roots were detained and taken into custody in a case involving public justification of terrorism. Later it became known that they were also charged with manufacturing and possessing explosives. On June 8, 2023, Torochkov was sentenced to 13 years in a strict-regime penal colony and fined 350,000 rubles.
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.