Andrey Vitovtov
Andrey Vitovtov, born 1972, Altai Krai. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); “Andrey Vitovtov's case on public justification of terrorism”. Sentenced on October 8, 2024. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 1, 2023; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Novosibirsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 25, 2024.
In brief
Altai Krai · Barnaul · Entrepreneurs · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
6 years
Imprisonment (general regime)
Upheld January 13, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the case initiation was publications in the Telegram channel "Ice under the Major's feet" about the assassination attempt on Kremlin propagandist Zakhar Prilepin and about drone attacks on the Moscow City district.
Latest event
January 13, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 25, 2024
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Andrey Vitovtov's case on public justification of terrorism
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Novosibirsk Oblast
Criminal case
Andrey Vitovtov's case on public justification of terrorism
- Case number
- 1-80/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Novosibirsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
630010, Новосибирская обл., Новосибирск, ул. Караваева, 1, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Новосибирской области, Витовтов Андрей Васильевич, 1972 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Barnaul. He was detained on the street on 12 December 2023, after which he was taken to his flat for it to be searched. They seized electronic devices, a collection of Soviet medals, diplomas and badges, money, and a bank card (the law enforcers denied that the latter had been seized). On the same day the search was also conducted at the warehouse of spare parts rented by Vitovtov. After the searches, the Barnaul resident was sent to a pre-trial detention centre on a case of public justification of terrorism because of publications in an anonymous Telegram channel.
Vitovtov's wife told OVD-Info that he was charged with publications in the "Ice Under the Major's Feet" Telegram channel about the assassination attempt on propagandist Zakhar Prilepin and about drone attacks on the Moscow City neighbourhood. According to her, the law enforcers have no evidence of his guilt.
In detention, the man began to have health problems: his arm goes numb. Vitovtov is denied visits from his family because he refuses to cooperate with the investigation.
On 8 October 2024 Vitovtov was sentenced to six years in a general regime colony.
The project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial" reported that in March 2025 it became known that a case of high treason had also been brought against Vitovtov.
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.