Matvei Iuferov
Matvei Iuferov, born 2002, Moscow. Charges: Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of…); “Matvei Iuferov's case of the rehabilitation of Nazism”. Sentence (December 24, 2021): 4 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, ban for 5 years on activities related to posting materials on the… Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, November 22, 2023.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Students
Sentence
4 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, ban for 5 years on activities related to posting materials on the Internet
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Insulting the memory, symbols, and veterans of the Great Patriotic War (committed by a group of individuals or using mass media or the Internet)
Full wording of the charges
As established by the Moscow City Court, on the night of 25 November 2021 urinated on the stand with a portrait of a war participant on Izmailovsky Boulevard.
Latest event
November 1, 2025 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, November 22, 2023
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
Matvei Iuferov's case of the rehabilitation of Nazism
Criminal case
Matvei Iuferov's case of the rehabilitation of Nazism
- Case number
- 2-0080/2021
Details and sources
Full summary
On the night of 25 November 2021 in Moscow, Iuferov, while intoxicated, urinated on a stand with a portrait of a World War II veteran; the video was recorded on camera and published in his Instagram stories.
Soon screenshots of the video appeared on the Telegram channel of Vladislav Pozdnyakov, founder of the extremist movement "Men's State". On the same day, Iuferov was detained, and a criminal case was opened against him. The case was investigated by a five-member investigative team; it was reported that the case was under the personal control of the head of the State Investigative Committee of Moscow.
Iuferov, the great-grandson of a veteran and son of a retired military officer, pleaded guilty, recorded a video apologising, and donated 30,000 roubles he had saved working as a courier to a veterans' aid fund. In a conversation with the investigator, Iuferov noted that his "prank" was "cynical and blatantly hooligan", but he had never shared Nazi and extremist beliefs. Matvei agreed to a deal with the investigation and was to receive no more than two-thirds of the term demanded by the prosecutor - that is, 3 years and 4 months.
Despite this, the Moscow City Court sentenced him to 4 years' imprisonment on 24 December 2021; on 21 March, the appeal court approved the decision, and it entered into force.
Presumably, Iuferov was released in November 2025.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 354.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.