Aleksei Zakharov
Aleksei Zakharov, born 1976, 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…); “Aleksei Zakharov's case of "fake news" about Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (November 28, 2025): 6 years' imprisonment in absentia. Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Scientists · Anti-war cases
Sentence
6 years
imprisonment in absentia
No information about an appeal ruling.
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)
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the case was a Facebook post about the involvement of the Russian military in the deaths of civilians in Bucha.
Latest event
November 28, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 6 years.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Aleksei Zakharov's case of "fake news" about Russian Armed Forces
Criminal case
Aleksei Zakharov's case of "fake news" about Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0831/2025
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Resident of Moscow, sociologist, economist. He taught at the Higher School of Economics and published in independent media. He left Russia. On 14 May 2025, he was placed in custody in absentia on charges of spreading deliberately false information about Russian Armed Forces. On 28 November, the court sentenced him in absentia to six years' imprisonment in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Preventive measures
- arrest in absentia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.