Published on 6 October 2025
THIRD SECTION
Application no. 3198/20
Grigoriy Andreyevich KUDRYAVTSEV against Russia
and 13 other applications
(see table appended)
PROCEDURAL INFORMATION
Following a preliminary examination of the admissibility of the applications on 18 September 2025, the Court decided, under Rule 54 § 2 (b) of the Rules of Court, that notice of the applications should be given to the Government of Russia.
In the applications marked by an asterisk, other complaints were raised. This part of the applications has been struck out of the Court’s list of cases or declared inadmissible by the Court, sitting in a single-judge formation, assisted by a rapporteur as provided for in Article 24 § 2 of the Convention.
In the enclosed table, whenever an applicant is referred to using initials, this indicates that the Court has authorised anonymity for that person, whose identity will not be disclosed to the public (Rule 47 § 4).
For further information on the procedure following communication of an application brought against Russia, subject of well-established case law of the Court, please refer to the Court’s website.
SUBJECT MATTER
The applications concern complaints raised under Article 10 of the Convention relating to various restrictions on the right to freedom of expression which are the subject of well-established case law of the Court (see the Relevant case-law column in the table below).
APPENDIX – STATEMENT OF FACTS
List of applications raising complaints under Article 10 of the Convention
(various restrictions on the right to freedom of expression)
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Representative’s name and location
Summary of facts
Final decision
Date
Name of the court
Penalty (award, fine, imprisonment)
Legal issues
Relevant case-law
Other complaints under well-established case-law
3198/20*
10/12/2019
Grigoriy Andreyevich KUDRYAVTSEV
1984
Anton Sergeyevich Grachev
Strasskirchen
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.2 § 2 of the CAO for having set up in St Petersburg, on 3 April 2019, a makeshift tombstone bearing the inscription "PUTIN, 1952-2019, BETRAYER OF THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE".
St Petersburg City Court, 11/06/2019
9 days’ imprisonment
Imprisonment excessive for a symbolic protest action
Olga Kudrina v. Russia, no. 34313/06, 6 April 2021 (excessive prison sentence for peaceful expressive conduct).
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
12661/20*
26/02/2020
Aleksey
Anatolyevich KUNGUROV
1977
Irina Vladimirovna Khrunova
Kazan
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.3.1 of the CAO for having published on LiveJournal, on 18 January 2019, a blog post titled "Is it permissible to call the Russian people shit?" discussing Russian-speaking population’s characteristics in a coarse satirical style. While containing no calls to violence or obscene language, a forensic examination by Tyumen State University found that the article contained signs of national dignity humiliation and incitement to hatred.
Tyumen Regional Court, 19/11/2019
15 days’ imprisonment
Excessively broad and unforeseeable interpretation of hate speech
Dmitriyevskiy v. Russia, no. 42168/06, § 113, 3 October 2017 (hate speech, conviction under Article 282 of the Criminal Code).
Art. 6 (3) (c) - own choice of legal assistance - The courts refused to adjourn the hearing to allow the applicant’s lawyer to participate,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - the applicant started serving the prison sentence immediately after the first-instance judgment had been delivered; no suspensive effect of appeal.
26041/20
25/05/2020
Aleksey Vladimirovich KONONOV
1982
Aleksey Vladimirovich Bushmakov
Yekaterinburg
The applicant was convicted under Article 319 of the Criminal Code for having published on YouTube, on 12/06/2019, a video criticising police inaction by insulting a police officer, using the terms "coward" and "administrative impotent".
Irbitskiy District Court of Sverdlovsk Region, 21/01/2020
160 hours’ community service
Criminal sanction excessive for criticism of authorities without evidence of incitement to violence
Karuyev v. Russia, no. 4161/13, 18 January 2022 (disrespect for the authorities / State officials).
37097/20*
07/08/2020
Anatoliy
Stepanovich GRITSENKO
1957
Nikolay Sergeyevich Zboroshenko
Moscow
The applicant was convicted under Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code for having made statements interpreted as propaganda of terrorism, including a comment to Ukrainian TV channel "1+1" in 2014 proposing to destroy Russian convoys with combat equipment in response to Ukrainian armed forces losses, and a statement to portal "112 Ukraine" on 02/07/2017 that "for every such car that exploded in Kiev or Mariupol, two should explode in Taganrog or Moscow" when commenting on the explosion of a Ukrainian military intelligence commander’s vehicle.
Military Court of Appeal, 15/04/2020
6 years’ imprisonment
Conviction in absentia for political statements made outside Russian jurisdiction
Savva Terentyev v. Russia, no. 10692/09, 28 August 2018 (excessive broad domestic provisions on hate speech).
Art. 6 (3) (c) - own choice of legal assistance - The applicant was not informed about the institution of proceedings against him or allowed to choose his counsel,
Art. 6 (3) (d) - examination/attendance of witnesses - The court refused to summon the expert in linguistics on whose findings the conviction was based to a decisive extent,
Art. 6 (3) (b) - adequate time/facilities for preparation of defence - The applicant was not informed of the charges against him or allowed to submit arguments in his defence.
51386/20*
30/10/2020
Alan
Aleksandrovich DZUGAYEV
1989
Yuliya
Fedotova
Yekaterinburg
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.2 § 2 of the CAO for having placed a coffin with the sign "Elections 2020" before the building of the election commission of Yessentuki on 24/08/2020.
Stavropol Regional Court, 12/09/2020
5 days’ imprisonment
Imprisonment excessive for a symbolic protest action
Olga Kudrina v. Russia, no. 34313/06, 6 April 2021 (excessive prison sentence for peaceful expressive conduct).
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
53098/20
16/11/2020
Anton
Igorevich
NOVIKOV
1989
Irina Vladimirovna Khrunova
Kazan
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.1 of the CAO for having posted a comment on VKontakte in which he criticised the President of Russia using an obscene word.
Smolensk Regional Court, 15/07/2020
Fine of RUB 30,000
Fine excessive for political criticism
Karuyev v. Russia, no. 4161/13, 18 January 2022 (disrespect for the authorities / State officials).
Art. 6 (3) (d) - examination/attendance of witnesses -inability to cross‑examine witnesses against him,
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
1244/21*
04/12/2020
Ilya
Vyacheslavovich AREFYEV
1984
Irina Vladimirovna Khrunova
Kazan
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.1 § 3 of the CAO for having published a post on a social network containing a negative assessment of the President.
Supreme Court of the Tatarstan Republic, 17/06/2020
Fine of RUB 30,000
Fine excessive for political criticism
Karuyev v. Russia, no. 4161/13, 18 January 2022 (disrespect for the authorities / State officials).
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
15080/21*
13/03/2021
Sergey
Ivanovich
LAVROV
1991
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
The applicant was convicted under Article 205.2 § 2 of the Criminal Code for having created several communities on VKontakte with headings criticising Vladimir Putin and posting messages supporting revolutionary activity in Russia.
Military Court of Appeal, 14/09/2020
5 years’ imprisonment
Excessively broad interpretation of terrorism legislation for political criticism without evidence of incitement to violence
Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russia, nos. 32401/10 and 19 others, §§ 158‑59, 7 June 2022 (excessively broad definition of extremism).
20092/21*
07/04/2021
Aytakhadzhi Visarkhadzhieyevich KHALIMOV
1993
Memorial Human Rights Centre
Moscow
The applicant was convicted under Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code for having saved and watched videos about the war in Chechnya on his social network page, which, according to the conviction, justified the actions of Chechen separatists.
Appellate Military Court, 07/10/2020
3 years and 6 months’ imprisonment
Excessively broad interpretation of terrorism legislation for political content without evidence of incitement to violence
Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russia, nos. 32401/10 and 19 others, §§ 158‑59, 7 June 2022 (excessively broad definition of extremism).
23584/21
16/04/2021
Nikolay
Valeryevich SOKUROV
1992
Irina Vladimirovna Khrunova
Kazan
The applicant was convicted under Article 5.26 § 2 of the CAO for having published on his social network page materials related to Pastafarianism criticising the organisation of the Orthodox church, which, in the opinion of an Orthodox priest, had insulted the feelings of the adherents to the Christian religion.
Surgut Town Court, 12/11/2020
Fine of RUB 30,000
Excessively broad and unforeseeable interpretation of religious offence legislation
Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russia, nos. 32401/10 and 19 others, §§ 158‑59, 7 June 2022 (excessively broad definition of extremism).
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.
28600/21
20/05/2021
Vladimir Valentinovich SHASHKOV
1965
Alan
Olegovich Gamazov
Moscow
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.2 § 2 of the CAO for having posted on Odnoklassniki, on 18/04/2021, a link to Navalnyy’s twitter account announcing that a protest in his support would be held on 21 April.
Moscow City Court, 27/04/2021
7 days’ imprisonment
Imprisonment excessive for sharing information about peaceful assembly
Elvira Dmitriyeva v. Russia, nos. 60921/17 and 7202/18, §§ 77-90, 30 April 2019 (conviction for calls to participate in public events).
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings,
Prot. 7 Art. 2 - delayed review of conviction by a higher tribunal - Sentence executed before the appeal was heard.
38244/21
14/07/2021
Vladislav
Yuryevich
SHULGA
1981
Irina Vladimirovna Khrunova
Kazan
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.3.1 of the CAO for having commented on a VK publication criticising prosecutors, police officers and judges, calling them criminals, dregs and swindlers.
Arkhangelsk Regional Court, 30/03/2021
Fine of RUB 10,000
Excessively broad and unforeseeable interpretation of hate speech
Dmitriyevskiy v. Russia, no. 42168/06, § 113, 3 October 2017 (hate speech, conviction under Article 282 of the Criminal Code).
47068/21*
09/09/2021
Ramay
Zagidullovich YULDASHEV
1970
Vladimir Yuryevich Protasov
Yoshkar-Ola
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.3.1 of the CAO for having posted on VKontakte content concerning the relations between two ethnic groups (Bashkirs and Tatars).
Supreme Court of the Mari El Republic, 10/03/2021
Fine of RUB 10,000
Excessively broad and unforeseeable interpretation of hate speech
Dmitriyevskiy v. Russia, no. 42168/06, § 113, 3 October 2017 (hate speech, conviction under Article 282 of the Criminal Code).
57820/21
13/11/2021
Darya Aleksandrovna BELYAYEVA
1991
Irina Vladimirovna Khrunova
Kazan
The applicant was convicted under Article 20.1 § 3 of the CAO for having posted a critical comment on her Facebook page regarding court proceedings concerning the construction of a church, where public access was denied due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Sverdlovsk Regional Court, 16/06/2021
Fine of RUB 30,000
Fine excessive for political criticism
Karuyev v. Russia, no. 4161/13, 18 January 2022 (disrespect for the authorities / State officials).
Art. 6 (1) - lack of impartiality of the tribunal in view of the absence of a prosecuting party in administrative-offence proceedings.