The prosecution has requested a four-year prison sentence for a folklorist from Khanty-Mansiysk, a city in western Siberia, instead of a fine.

The prosecution has requested a harsher sentence for folklorist and bard Valery Ledkov, who was sentenced at the end of July to a fine of 120,000 rubles (approximately US$1,300) in a case concerning donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). This was reported by his lawyer, Pavel Rusnakov.

The prosecution is asking to replace the fine with four years in a penal colony. The prosecutor had requested the same sentence for the folklorist during the hearing at the lower court.

According to law enforcement, the lower court “did not take into account or assess the circumstances under which Ledkov V.K., having developed a persistent pattern of unlawful behaviour as indicated by information about his character, committed the specified crime.” In its appeal, the prosecution notes that the folklorist spoke out on social media against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and in support of FBK, and published cartoons of Russian officials. Additionally, the man was fined under the article on participation in unauthorised rallies (part 5, art. 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and under the article on “discrediting the army” (part 1, art. 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

The prosecutor also asks for Ledkov to be banned from administering internet resources for two years. The lower court did not impose such a ban, arguing that the man does not administer any online pages. The prosecution counters that the bard manages his personal page on VKontakte.

The prosecution also requested that the question of confiscating assets equivalent to 2,100 rubles (about US$23), which the investigation believes Ledkov donated to FBK, be returned to the lower court for consideration.

On 29 July, the Khanty-Mansiysk District Court found Ledkov guilty of financing extremist activity (part 1, art. 282.3 of the Criminal Code). According to law enforcement, he made six donations to FBK after the organisation was declared “extremist” in Russia. The first payment of 300 rubles was withdrawn on 5 August 2021. Afterwards, according to the investigation, Ledkov set up a monthly payment and by 5 February 2022 had transferred a further 1,800 rubles to the organisation.

The criminal case was opened on 24 December 2024, with the reason being the first FBK donation of 300 rubles. News of a second criminal case because of the 1,800 ruble donations emerged on 1 April. The two proceedings were combined into one case.

Before sentencing, Ledkov was under house arrest.

• In May, Ledkov’s son, Konstantin, was sentenced to five years and six months in a penal colony in a case concerning repeat propaganda of Nazi symbols (part 1, art. 282.4 of the Criminal Code), repeat “discrediting of the army” (part 1, art. 280.3 of the Criminal Code), and calls for actions against state security (para. “v,” part 2, art. 280.4 of the Criminal Code).
• OVD-Info covered the story of the prosecution of Konstantin and Valery Ledkov in this article.