Alexander Matkheev

A resident of Buryatia, Alexander Matkheev was registered at a psychiatric dispensary. He worked as a loader, cashier, and cook at a kindergarten. He was strongly opposed to the war, and at some point, he began corresponding with people he believed were connected to the "Freedom of Russia" legion. Following their instructions, he bought equipment and headed to the specified location by train. On 14 November 2023, Matkheev was detained at the Taiga railway station in the Kemerovo region. He was initially arrested for ten days under an administrative charge of petty hooliganism (Part 1 of Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). After serving that term, he was given another 15-day arrest for the same offence.

On 22 December 2023, Matkheev was detained again, this time as a suspect in a case of preparing for treason, participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, and incitement to terrorism. The next day, he was taken into custody. On 16 April 2024, Matkheev was sentenced to ten years in a high-security penal colony. After his detention, Matkheev began expressing support for Russia in the conflict. On 7 August 2024, an appellate court reduced his sentence by two months.

In September 2024, the "First Department" reported that Matkheev had written in a letter that he was being sent to the war as a cook. However, Matkheev's lawyer later denied this information.

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