The 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced 36-year-old Mikhail Khutorov, a resident of Dmitrov near Moscow, to seven years in a general-regime penal colony. The court’s press service reported the ruling.
He was convicted in a case tied to comments posted on Telegram and VKontakte. Prosecutors brought three charges against him: justification of and calls for terrorism, calls for activities against state security, and dissemination of military “fakes.”
According to the court, the terrorism-related charges were based on 12 posts, comments, and messages published from March 2023 to March 2024 in channels, groups, and under other users’ posts.
The court release says that in those publications Khutorov expressed support for members of the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, held what it described as “pro-Ukrainian views,” and shared “anti-Russian sentiments,” as well as showing an “extremely contemptuous” attitude toward the Russian authorities and the constitutional order.
The military “fakes” charge stemmed from a publication claiming that the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka dam. The court did not disclose which messages formed the basis for the charge of calls for activities against state security, saying only that they were posted in May and June 2023.
The court said Khutorov admitted guilt and “actively assisted in solving and investigating the crimes.” According to leaked database records, he worked as a courier and taxi driver and has three minor children.