Nikolay Usov
Nikolay Usov, Altai Krai. Charges: Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries); “The case of Nikolai Usov on discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”. Sentence (October 25, 2024): 1 year 7 months of compulsory labour, a 2-year ban on administering websites. Status: location unknown. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 10, 2025.
In brief
Altai Krai · NULL · Anti-war cases
Sentence
1 year 7 months of compulsory labour, a 2-year ban on administering websites.
First instance, August 29, 2024: 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment, replaced with forced labour, and a 2-year ban on administering websites.
Charges
- 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
In April 2023, he was fined 38,000 roubles under the administrative article on discrediting the army (Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offences Code) due to anti-war posts on VKontakte. Additionally, in January 2023 he was fined 35,000 roubles under the same article because of an anti-war picket. The court sentenced him to 1.5 years of compulsory labour and imposed a two-year ban on administering websites.
Latest event
April 10, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 10, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
Criminal case
The case of Nikolai Usov on discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
- Case number
- 1-146/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Altai Krai. In 2023, he was fined twice under the administrative article for discrediting the army (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Later, a criminal case was initiated against Usov under a similar charge. On 29 August 2024, he was sentenced to one and a half years' imprisonment, but the sentence was replaced with forced labour. On 25 October 2024, the appeal court increased the sentence by one month.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.