Dmitrii Vitushkin
Dmitrii Vitushkin, born 1983. Charges: Article 354.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Second World War (using an official position, by a…); “Dmitrii Vitushkin's case of the rehabilitation of Nazism”. Sentence (June 25, 2025): 1 year's imprisonment in an open prison with the deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, December 7, 2024.
In brief
Saint Petersburg · Journalists
Sentence
1 year
s imprisonment in an open prison with the deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to administering websites and posting materials in information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet, for a period of 3 years
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 354.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Second World War (using an official position, by a group of individuals, using media or the internet, with fabricating evidence for the prosecution)
Full wording of the charges
The basis for the criminal prosecution was a series of comments made under a post in the "Ingermanlandia" Vkomtakte group, which were deemed to discredit the liberation of Leningrad from the blockade, involving the falsification of historical facts. The investigation considers Vitushkin to be the administrator of the group. The post in question discussed the biography of Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä, who fought in the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940. In the comments, posted on behalf of the group, Häyhä was claimed to be "a worthy role model", as by killing Soviet soldiers, he was "defending his homeland from occupiers - allies of Nazi Germany". According to the investigation, these comments - allegedly published by the "Ingermanlandia" group administrator - constitute "a denial and falsification of historical facts established by the International Tribunal at Nuremberg" and "discredit the liberation of Leningrad from fascist invaders", thereby insulting the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland.
Latest event
June 25, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 1 year.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, December 7, 2024
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 1 year
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: ban on certain activities
· Persecution begins
Dmitrii Vitushkin's case of the rehabilitation of Nazism
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Dmitrii Vitushkin's case of the rehabilitation of Nazism
Details and sources
Full summary
St. Petersburg journalist, local historian, administrator of the "Ingermanlandia" group in VKontakte. On 12 October 2023 his home was searched. The next day the court sent him into custody in the case of spreading deliberately false information on the Internet about the activities of the USSR during the Second World War and insulting the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland. On 10 April 2024, Vitushkin was subjected to a measure of restrain in the form of a ban on certain actions.
In June 2025, during the trial, the prosecutor's office dropped one of the two charges - insulting the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland. It was brought because of a comment in the community "Ingermanlandia" in "VKontakte": "With your "Leningrad land" go to other GROUPS. We do not welcome the glorification of terrorism here". The prosecution dropped the accusation after a re-examination found no signs of explicit disrespect for society in the comment.
On 25 June the court sentenced Vitushkin to a year in a penal colony. Due to the deduction of time spent in the pre-trial detention centre, he must spend one day in the colony. He was also given a three-year ban on administering websites and posting materials on the Internet.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- ban on certain activities
Other people prosecuted under Article 354.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.