Igor Iakunichev
Igor Iakunichev, born 1988, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); Article 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries); “The case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces, discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and public justification of terrorism in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District”. Sentence (September 5, 2025): 12 years’ imprisonment in a general regime colony and a ban on administering websites and internet-based channels for 5… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since May 3, 2024; place of detention: Penal colony No. 4, Tyumen Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 21, 2025.
In brief
Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug · Nadym · Janitors · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
12 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony and a ban on administering websites and internet-based channels for 5 years
Upheld April 13, 2026
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- 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 280.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
- Article 280.4 part 2 item v, Russian Criminal Code
Full wording of the charges
The basis for the prosecution were posts on VKontakte about the crimes committed by the Russian Armed Forces in Bucha, as well as about the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, a video about the shooting of a resident of the Ukrainian village Berezovka by the Russian Armed Forces and a video about the Freedom of Russia Legion.
Latest event
April 13, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 21, 2025
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 12 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Tyumen Oblast
· Preventive measure: temporary stay in hospital
· Persecution begins
The case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces, discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and public justification of terrorism in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District
Criminal case
The case of “fakes” about the Russian Armed Forces, discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and public justification of terrorism in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District
- Case number
- 2-250/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 4, Tyumen Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
625017, Тюменская область, г.Тюмень, ул.Авторемонтная, 29, ФКУ «ИК № 4 УФСИН России по Тюменской области», Якуничев Игорь Александрович, 1988 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He is a resident of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District and a street cleaner. In May 2023, a case was initiated against him for dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces. At that time, a search was conducted in his home. During the arrest he was beaten. Then the court applied a measure of restraint in the form of a ban on certain actions. In December 2023, a case was initiated for public justification of terrorism, and no later than March 2024 another one was initiated for discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. No later than February 2024, the investigation requested that the man be sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. On 1 April 2024, the man’s home was searched again, after which he was forcibly hospitalised in a psychiatric institution. When the case was referred to the court, it turned out that another case had also been initiated against him for publicly calling to engage in activities against the security of the Russian Federation.
At the trial, Iakunichev said that in the pre-trial detention centre he was not given medication and was threatened with “reprisals of a sexual nature”.
On 5 September 2025, the court sentenced him to a 12-year term in a general regime colony.
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.