Tomsk Court Sentences Journalist Serafimov to 4.5 Years in Absentia
A court sentenced Tomsk journalist Andrei Serafimov to 4.5 years in a colony in absentia. The Kirovsky District Court of Tomsk found the journalist guilty of inciting anti-state activity (Article 280.4 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced him to 4.5 years of deprivation of liberty in absentia.
Consensus
- The court in Tomsk sentenced Andrey Serafimov in absentia to 4.5 years in prison.
- The conviction was based on Article 280.4 of the Russian Criminal Code, related to incitement to anti-state activity.
- Serafimov was accused of posting content encouraging people not to attend military enlistment offices.
- Serafimov lives abroad and is in exile.
- He previously worked with the regional branch of Young Guard of United Russia and later became an independent journalist.
- Serafimov has a Telegram channel called 'Улица Бархатная' (Barhantnaya Street).
- He has collaborated with independent media outlets such as Meduza and Novaya Gazeta Evropa.
- The case was initiated in 2024, and Serafimov was declared a fugitive in January 2024.
- He was formally arrested in absentia in October 2025.
- Serafimov stated that the charges were linked to his calls for Russians not to respond to military summons.
Points of divergence
- Serafimov wrote in his Telegram channel that the sentence was 4 years and 6 months, not 4.5 years. — mediazona
- Serafimov's Telegram channel is described as covering political life in Tomsk and university issues, and he previously collaborated with '7x7'. — tg_horizontal_russia
- Serafimov explicitly linked his prosecution to his posts urging people not to go to military enlistment offices even for 'clarification of information'. — mediazona
- Serafimov compared Article 280.4 to Article 70 of the USSR Criminal Code, calling it 'anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda'. — tg_radiosvoboda
Coverage (4 sources)
- Court in Tomsk sentenced journalist Andrey Serafimov to 4.5 years in prison in absentia on charges of incitement to activities against... — Радио Свобода
- Tomsk journalist sentenced to four and a half years in prison in absentia on charges of refusing to report to military commissariats — Медиазона
- Court in Tomsk sentenced journalist Andrey Serafimov to 4.5 years in prison in absentia on charges of incitement to activities against... — Настоящее Время
- Court sentenced Tomsk journalist to 4.5 years in prison in absentia — 7х7 — Горизонтальная Россия