The 1st Western District Military Court found 58-year-old Podoshvelev guilty. He will spend the first three years in prison, with the remainder of the sentence served in a high-security penal colony. The court also ordered him to pay a substantial fine in connection with civil lawsuits related to damage to cultural heritage sites.
Graffiti on Walls and Terrorism Suspicions
It all started with inscriptions like "ROC for the Murderers" on the walls of churches in St. Petersburg and the phrase "Polytech for the Murderers" on a university building. Investigators claim that in January 2024, Podoshvelev painted them on the instructions of a representative from the Ukrainian "Freedom of Russia Legion." Later, photos of the graffiti were allegedly found on his phone.
Initially, he was charged with vandalism and damaging cultural heritage sites. However, in the summer of 2024, the case was reclassified, and he was now accused of participating in a terrorist organization (Article 205.5 Part 2 of the Criminal Code).
14 Years for Correspondence
Investigators claim that in 2023, Podoshvelev attempted to contact a legion curator via email and even filled out an application to join. The case materials include messages in which he allegedly agrees to "join the Legion."
Podoshvelev pleaded not guilty. He stated that he had communicated with Ruslan Ts. — whom investigators consider a Legion representative — believing him to be a volunteer helping Russians emigrate. According to Podoshvelev, he was only exploring the possibility of emigrating to Poland or the U.S. with his son and had no serious intentions. He also claimed he contacted Ukrainian authorities solely to obtain information about his father and trace his family roots.
Torture and Pressure
At the trial, Podoshvelev recounted being beaten during his arrest on February 14, 2024, and threatened with torture and harm to his family. He also said that while in pretrial detention, he was subjected to psychological pressure. After his arrest, his son reportedly faced bullying at school, where he was enrolled in a cadet class.
The defense pointed out the lack of direct evidence connecting Podoshvelev to the Legion. His lawyer emphasized that the contact details referenced by investigators had not been proven. Podoshvelev claimed he did not create the graffiti — on the night it appeared, he was home recovering from surgery and only stepped into the hallway, where he lost his phone. The phone was later found with incriminating photos.
Politics and Context
In light of the case, the human rights organization Memorial has recognized Podoshvelev as a political prisoner. In his final statement in court, he said he had done nothing criminal and that his only wish was to be with his family.
The prosecution had demanded an 18-year sentence. The court gave him 14.
Conclusion
This case illustrates how anti-war views — even when expressed through graffiti or private correspondence — can lead to severe criminal charges. The lack of a confession, reports of torture, and pressure on the defendant's family all point to a politically charged process. Podoshvelev's case is yet another example of repression against dissent in modern-day Russia.
O. Ivanenko
