The Moscow City Court found former DPR Defense Minister Igor Strelkov, known also as Girkin, guilty of publicly urging extremist activity on the internet under Part 2 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code. A four-year sentence in a general regime penal colony was imposed.
Judge Irina Vyrysheva stated the verdict: “To sentence Girkin to four years in a penal colony with service in a general regime colony.” The ruling also imposes a three-year ban on managing websites.
The article’s maximum penalty is five years of imprisonment. The time Strelkov already spent in pre-trial detention will count toward the sentence, with one day in detention equaling a day and a half in the colony. This means parole could be sought after roughly seven months of serving the term.
Reaction to the decision
After the verdict was delivered, Vyrysheva asked Strelkov if he understood the sentence; he maintained his denial of guilt and replied, “I serve Russia.”
Lawyer Alexander Molokhov, who represented Strelkov, indicated that the decision would be appealed after the hearing. In a later conversation with Vedomosti, the defense counsel described the court’s decision as a harsh punishment for a patriot.
About a hundred people attended the hearing on January 25, including former GRU colonel Vladimir Kvachkov and Strelkov’s wife Miroslava. The parties agreed that an appeal is appropriate, though the exact timing remained unsettled. By law, a notice of appeal must be filed within 15 days.
Telegram posts status
Strelkov was detained in Moscow and placed in Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in July 2023. The case stemmed from two Telegram posts: one suggested the possible surrender of Crimea, and the other addressed issues concerning the army’s allowances. Sources noted that the detention followed the incident involving a former Wagner PMC employee. On December 7, the Moscow City Court extended the detention period by six months.
The trial proceeded behind closed doors. During the discussion, prosecutors urged a sentence of four years and eleven months in a general regime colony, while the defense argued for acquittal.
In 2014, Strelkov urged Russian authorities to deploy troops to Donbas and welcomed the creation of the Northern Military District in February 2023. He also criticized the methods of using force and clashed with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner PMC. Strelkov referred to Prigozhin in dismissive terms and accused him of pressuring the Ministry of Defense. A public dispute followed, and Prigozhin invited Strelkov to join Wagner, which he declined.
MH17 disaster and presidential ambitions
As a key organizer among Donbas militants in 2014, Strelkov played a role in the events surrounding the MH17 tragedy. On the night of April 12, 2014, he and a unit crossed into Ukrainian territory and took part in seizing control of Slavyansk. By mid-April, Slavyansk was encircled, and the militia eventually retreated to nearby towns before moving toward Donetsk.
Between May 16 and August 14, 2014, Strelkov served as the de facto Defense Minister of the DPR. After resigning, he did not participate in active fighting. In November 2022, the International Court at The Hague found him implicated in the MH17 case. In autumn 2023, he announced a bid for the presidency, sending a letter from detention urging supporters to gather signatures. The bid could not progress due to missing authorizations and signatures on official documents.