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Today, a court sentenced Andrey Bobkov, a resident of Chita, to 14 years in prison, having found him guilty of involvement in a terrorist organisation (Part 2 Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code). This was reported by the regional prosecutor’s office. The information was confirmed to OVD-Info by a relative of Bobkov.
According to the outlet, Bobkov is involved in the same case as another local, Maksim Ivannikov. In April 2025, Ivannikov was sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime penal colony for charges of state treason (Article 275), public incitement to extremism (Article 280), participation in a terrorist organisation and supporting terrorism (Article 205.1).
According to the words of Ivannikov’s wife, Diana, her husband was convicted over a “sarcastic” comment in a Telegram channel. The resident of Chita wrote: I suggest joining the partisans and undermining the regime from within. However, Diana Ivannikova does not know other details of the case.
According to investigators, the channel was run by members of the “Artpodgotovka” movement.
Security officers came for Maksim Ivannikov in February 2024. Police began torturing him from the moment he was taken from his home and put in the official vehicle, until arrival at the FSB office.
“They attached electrodes to my scrotum, and then I howled like never before in my life. I’d never felt such pain in all my 37 years. By then I was willing to confess to anything, just for this nightmare to end,” the Chita resident recalled of the torture.
At the police station, the man was beaten with hands, feet, elbows—on the head, body, back, and chest. At times the officers choked Ivannikov while he knelt with handcuffs fastened. For “wrong” answers, the resident of Chita was given electric shocks.
After the torture, Ivannikov was stood in front of a Russian tricolour and forced to say a pre-prepared statement on camera—admitting guilt and “renouncing the partisan movement.”
When the man was taken to a doctor for a physical examination, security officers threatened to resume torture if he complained about the beatings.
31 July Andrey Bobkov was charged with participation in the “Artpodgotovka” movement. His acquaintance reported this to OVD-Info.
2 August More details about Bobkov’s conviction became known, noted by “People of Baikal.”
He must spend the first four years in prison, with the remainder of the term in a strict regime penal colony.
The headline and articles under which Andrey Bobkov was charged have been updated in this article. Initially, “People of Baikal” reported four articles under which both Bobkov and Ivannikov were convicted. After the prosecutor’s press release and confirmation from a relative, it became clear that Bobkov was only convicted under one article—involvement in a terrorist organisation. We apologise for the inaccuracy.