Nikita Tushkanov
Nikita Tushkanov, born 1994, 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 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries); “Nikita Tushkanov's case of public justification of terrorism and repeated discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (March 12, 2024): 5 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 7, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 20, Vologda Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, February 5, 2023.
In brief
Komi Republic · Syktyvkar · Teachers · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
5 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
First instance, May 11, 2023: 5 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
Full wording of the charges
The criminal case on public justification of terrorism was initiated because of a post containing a photo of the Crimean Bridge explosion with a caption expressing approval of the incident. The case on discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was triggered by a VKontakte post. In addition, the case materials included comments referring to the annexation of Crimea.
Latest event
March 12, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, February 5, 2023
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years 6 months
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Komi Republic
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
Nikita Tushkanov's case of public justification of terrorism and repeated discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Nikita Tushkanov's case of public justification of terrorism and repeated discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces
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», Тушканов Никита Алексеевич, 1994 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He is a former school teacher in the town of Mikun (Komi). He was dismissed because he organised an anti-war action in Mikun. Nikita was a member of a search team, searching for unburied remains of soldiers and officers from the Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars. He is married.
In March 2022, four protocols were drawn up against Tushkanov because of his anti-war posts on VKontakte. He was charged with petty hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Administrative Code), demonstration of Nazi symbols (Article 20.3), and two protocols for discrediting the Russian army (part 1 of Article 20.3.3). The criminal case on public justification of terrorism was initiated over a post containing a photo of the Crimean bridge explosion with an approving comment. Case materials also included his publications on the annexation of Crimea.
Tushkanov was detained after a search in his flat and taken for questioning to the local FSSB. His flat in Mikun was also searched. The next day the court placed him in custody. Later, it became known that a case of discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code) was also opened due to a VKontakte post. In January 2023, he was forbidden from seeing relatives and denied permission to marry. In March 2023, pre-trial detention centre staff cut food sent by relatives into small pieces and shredded his jacket. According to his support group, this was an attempt to pressure him into cooperating with the investigation.
On 11 May 2023, Tushkanov was sentenced to 5.5 years in a general regime colony. On 25 September 2023, the appeal reduced the sentence to five years. In the colony, he was sent to SHIZO several times. In June 2023, he received the Boris Nemtsov Prize.
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.