Mikhail Zharikov
Mikhail Zharikov, born 1984, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. 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 354.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Second World War (using an official position, by a…); “Mikhail Zharikov's case for the "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces, justification of terrorism and rehabilitation of Nazism”. Sentence (October 9, 2024): 5 years 10 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition to administer Internet resources for 4… Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since August 1, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 17, Kirov Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, February 24, 2024.
In brief
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast · Nizhny Novgorod · Journalists · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
5 years 10 months
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition to administer Internet resources for 4 years
First instance, October 20, 2023: 6 years
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 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
In June 2023, the media reported that Zharikov published anti-war posts and photos of destroyed Ukrainian cities on his Instagram page. In a live broadcast, he compared modern Russia to 1930s Germany and criticised Russians for the lack of mass anti-war demonstrations. The broadcast became the reason for a criminal case. Zharikov was initially charged under the 1st part of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code, but then the charge was reclassified to dissemination of deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces on hate motives (point "e" part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). The case of rehabilitation of Nazism was initiated because of a post in VKontakte. The post expressed an opinion about the role of the RLA(Russian Liberation Army) in the liberation of the Czech Republic in 1945 and quoted Solzhenitsyn's words from "The Gulag Archipelago". A case of public justification of terrorism was opened because of comments in Instagram about the car bombing of writer and propagandist Zakhar Prilepin.
Latest event
October 9, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, February 24, 2024
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
· Persecution begins
Mikhail Zharikov's case for the "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces, justification of terrorism and rehabilitation of Nazism
Criminal case
Mikhail Zharikov's case for the "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces, justification of terrorism and rehabilitation of Nazism
- Case number
- 1-237/2023
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 17, Kirov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
612740, ул. Трудовых резервов д. 125, Кировская область, г. Омутнинск, ФКУ «ИК № 17 УФСИН России по Кировской области», Жариков Михаил Александрович, 1984 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Former hockey match referee and press officer for the Nizhny Novgorod hockey club "Torpedo" and the Youth Hockey League.
Due to reposting of an announcement of 4th June action in support of Alexei Navalny, he was forced to record a video apology and was then arrested for eight days under the article on organising an unauthorised event (Part 2, Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences).
On 6th July, the Investigative Committee initiated a case against Zharikov under the article on "fake news" about the Russian army due to a June broadcast on Instagram. He was taken into custody.
On 1st August, a new case was opened against Zharikov under the article on the rehabilitation of Nazism due to a post on VKontakte. It was later revealed that a case had also been opened for public justification of terrorism due to a post on Instagram.
On 20th October 2023, Zharikov was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony. On 13th May 2024, a courtof appeal reduced his sentence by two months.
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.