Alexei Rozhkov

A resident of the city of Beryozovsky (Sverdlovsk region). On 24 March 2022, he was taken into custody in a case of attempted murder committed with particular cruelty in a generally dangerous manner out of hooligan motives. The investigation claimed that Rozhkov had set the military recruitment centre on fire, knowing that a female guard was inside. The female guard was not injured, the fire was extinguished, and petrol canisters were found at the young man's home. The policeman who detained Rozhkov claimed that no one was in the building. Then the charge was reclassified to property damage, and the measure of restraint was changed to recognisance not to leave. In November, Rozhkov failed to appear at the first court hearing in his case. Information appeared that he had been missing from the city since 18 November. Rozhkov reported that he left the country. At the end of May 2023, he was taken from Kyrgyzstan to Russia and taken into custody. The trial resumed, but on 5 July the case was sent back for further investigation: there were reports that Rozhkov might face tougher charges. On 31 August, a case was opened against Rozhkov for public justification of terrorism, the reason being Rozhkov's alleged reposting on VKontakte of a video clip of an interview he himself gave to the Khodorkovsky LIVE channel. In October 2023, the charge in connection with arson was reclassified to committing a terrorist act. On 30 December it became known that Rozhkov was accused of spreading military "fakes" by a group of persons by prior conspiracy on the motive of political hatred. The reason was the same interview to the channel "Khodorkovsky LIVE": according to the investigation, Rozhkov had agreed in advance with the hosts of the channel Elena Malakhovskaya and Renat Davletgildeev that on air he would call the arson attack on the military recruitment centre "correct, in need of support and imitation" and would express his opinion on the war, while the hosts would "verbally express their solidarity with Rozhkov, confirming his words". Rozhkov's lawyer was given limited time by the court to familiarise himself with the case.

On 20 May 2025, Rozhkov was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime penal colony.

You can read more about politically persecuted people in the Telegram channel OVD-Info LIVE and our database of politically motivated criminal prosecutions.