Mikhail Zygar
Mikhail Zygar, born 1981, 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…); “Mikhail Zygar's case about "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces”. Sentence (July 23, 2024): 8 years 6 months of imprisonment with serving the sentence in a penal colony of general regime, with deprivation of the… Status: not in Russia.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Journalists · Anti-war cases, Cases against "foreign agents"
Sentence
8 years 6 months
of imprisonment with serving the sentence in a penal colony of general regime, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to administrative sites, electronic or information and telecommunications networks, including the Internet for a period of 4 years.
Upheld June 11, 2025
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 an Instagram post about the crimes of the Russian army in Bucha, which Zygar published on 4 April 2022.
Latest event
June 11, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years 6 months
· Preventive measure: arrest in absentia
· Persecution begins
Mikhail Zygar's case about "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
· Added to the register of “foreign agents”
Criminal case
Mikhail Zygar's case about "fakes" about the Russian Armed Forces
- Case number
- 01-0448/2024
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
Journalist, former editor-in-chief of the Dozhd TV channel. In October 2022, recognised as a "foreign agent". On 12 March 2024, a criminal case was brought against Zygar for disseminating deliberately false information about the Armed Forces. On 23 July 2024, he was sentenced in absentia to eight and a half years.
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.