Pyotr Verzilov
Pyotr Verzilov, born 1987, Moscow. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “Pyotr Verzilov's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”, opened on December 1, 2022. Sentence (March 6, 2025): 8 years 4 months imprisonment in absentia, ban on writing on the Internet for 3 years 10 months. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow, Saint Petersburg · Journalists · Anti-war cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
8 years 4 months
imprisonment in absentia, ban on writing on the Internet for 3 years 10 months
First instance, November 3, 2023: 8 years 6 months
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
- Article 330.2, Russian Criminal Code — Failure to notify of foreign citizenship or permanent residence in a foreign state
Full wording of the charges
Two tweets and two posts in Verzilov's Instagram about the events in Bucha became the reason for the case.
Latest event
April 7, 2025 — preventive measure: arrest in absentia
Timeline
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Criminal case opened
The case of Petr Verzilov on state treason
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years 6 months
· Criminal case opened
Pyotr Verzilov's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
· Persecution begins
Pyotr Verzilov's case of failure to notify the Russian Government of his foreign citizenship
Criminal case
Pyotr Verzilov's case of "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0488/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
The case of Petr Verzilov on state treason
Pyotr Verzilov's case of failure to notify the Russian Government of his foreign citizenship
Details and sources
Full summary
Former publisher of Mediazona, member of Pussy Riot. After the beginning of the war, he fought in the AFU. In September 2018, he suffered from poisoning.
On 21 June 2020, Verzilov was searched as part of a case of mass disorder and use of violence against representatives of the authorities in connection with a rally in Moscow on 27 July 2019 in support of unregistered candidates in the Moscow City Duma elections. After the search, Verzilov was interrogated and released in the status of a witness, but he was attacked by a provocateur on his way out of the Investigative Committee building and was detained again. On 22 June, the court arrested him for 15 days under the article on petty hooliganism. On 6 July he was released from the special detention centre, after which it became known that a case of failure to notify of foreign citizenship had been opened against him. In November 2021, Verzilov was declared wanted in this case.
In September 2021, Verzilov was included in the register of "foreign agents".
In early December 2022, information about a criminal case about "fakes" about the army appeared. It was reported that Verzilov was wanted in this case as well. On 13 December a search was conducted at Verzilov's mother's home, on 16 December - at the participant of Pussy Riot Rita Flores house. In the latter case, lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov confirmed that the search was conducted as part of the case of "fakes" about the army. On 26 January 2023, Verzilov was charged in absentia. In March 2023, he was arrested in absentia. On 3 November 2023, Verzilov was sentenced in absentia to eight and a half years in a penal colony. On 11 March 2024, the court of appeal cancelled the verdict and sent the case for a new hearing due to some procedural violations. The next day, a number of artists and activists in different cities, as well as Verzilov's mother, were searched for treason in a new case against him.
In December 2024, Verzilov was included in the list of extremists and terrorists of Rosfinmonitoring, with a mark that is usually placed next to the names of people prosecuted under terrorist articles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Canada, Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
- Persecution episodes
- 3
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.