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Nikolai Lekomtsev, an engineer from Tatarstan convicted of involvement in an extremist organisation (Part 2, Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code), has been transferred to Penal Colony IK-8 in Tatarstan. This was reported by the Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial project.
In January, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court sentenced Lekomtsev to two and a half years in a penal colony, but in June, an appeal court increased the sentence by a further year. He is expected to be released at the end of May 2026.
According to investigators, Lekomtsev allegedly published “agitational materials” in a closed Telegram channel and chat belonging to the banned extremist organisation “Artpodgotovka,” “promoted ideas of violently overthrowing the government and the foundations of the constitutional order in Russia, and portrayed the special military operation in Ukraine in a negative light.” Investigators claim that he coordinated supporters via the Telegram channel.
You can support Nikolai Lekomtsev by sending him a letter through the Zonatelekom service:
423450, Republic of Tatarstan, Almetyevsk (a major city in the Volga region), ulitsa Bazovaya, 26, IK-8, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan, Lekomtsev Nikolai Vasilevich, born 1989.
- On 5 November 2017, supporters of Vyacheslav Maltsev, host of the popular YouTube channel “Artpodgotovka,” took to the streets in various Russian cities after he had promised that a revolution would take place on that day. According to OVD-Info, in the aftermath of the “revolution,” criminal cases were opened in 10 cities against at least 35 people, including under terrorism-related charges. More details.
- The “Artpodgotovka” movement was declared extremist on 26 October 2017. More details.