Sergei Udaltsov
Sergei Udaltsov, born 1977, Moscow. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Sergei Udaltsov's case of public justification of terrorism”, opened on January 11, 2024. Sentence (December 24, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony; previously convicted under Article 212 part 1, Russian Criminal Code; Article 212 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 24, 2024; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, September 30, 2015.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Politicians · Terrorism cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Other verdicts
- July 23, 2014 — 4 years and 6 months’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony.
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 212 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
- Article 212 part 1 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the prosecution was a certain post in Telegram. According to Udaltsov himself, the post was dedicated to the case of the participants of the Marxist circle in Ufa, who are accused of creating a terrorist community
Latest event
October 20, 2026 — case status changed
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 24, 2024
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, September 30, 2015
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, January 31, 2013
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Criminal case opened
Sergei Udaltsov's case of public justification of terrorism
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
The case of Sergei Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhaev
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
Criminal case
Sergei Udaltsov's case of public justification of terrorism
The case of Sergei Udaltsov and Leonid Razvozzhaev
Other defendants in the case
- Leonid Razvozzhayev — At large, 4 years 6 months
Thematic group: Bolotnaya case; The "Anatomy of a Protest" case
Details and sources
Full summary
Sergei Udaltsov is the coordinator of the Left Front and one of the leaders of mass opposition protests since the mid-2000s. In October 2012, a case was opened against him on charges of preparing to organize mass riots following the NTV broadcast of the "Anatomy of a Protest 2" film, which alleged that in June 2012 he, together with Leonid Razvozzhaiev and Konstantin Lebedev, had discussed the financing of mass riots in Russia with Georgii Targamadze, then head of the Georgian parliament’s Committee on Defense and Security.
The film featured video footage that allegedly showed a meeting between Udaltsov and Targamadze; however, the origin of the recording is unknown. According to the investigation, Udaltsov and Razvozzhaiev, together with Lebedev, organized training camps in various regions of the country for participants in future mass riots. On October 17, Udaltsov was placed under a travel restriction order.
In January 2013, the Investigative Committee announced the merger of the “Anatomy of a Protest 2” case with the Bolotnaya case into a single proceeding. According to investigators, Udaltsov was one of the organizers of the alleged mass riots on Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012, and financed these actions with Targamadze’s funds. On February 9, 2013, Udaltsov was placed under house arrest.
On July 24, 2014, the Moscow City Court sentenced him to four and a half years in a general-regime penal colony. On March 18, 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the Moscow City Court’s verdict. On August 8, 2017, Sergey Udaltsov was released from prison.
On January 11, 2024, Udaltsov was detained after a search as part of a case on publicly justifying terrorism, in connection with a statement supporting those persecuted in the Marxist circle case in Ufa. The following day, he was placed in pre-trial detention. On December 25, 2025, Udaltsov was sentenced to six years in a strict-regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.