The leader of the Chuvashia independence movement has been sentenced in absentia to seven and a half years for allegedly threatening the head of the “E” Centre.

The Kalininsky District Court of Cheboksary has sentenced Mikhail Oreshnikov, leader of the Chuvashia independence movement, in absentia. He was found guilty of calling for “extremism” online (Part 2, Article 280 of the Russian Criminal Code) and incitement to hatred (Subparagraph “a,” Part 2, Article 282 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by the pro-Kremlin agency TASS, citing the verdict.

Oreshnikov was sentenced to seven years and six months in a general regime penal colony. The sentence will start from the moment he crosses the border or is extradited to Russia. Oreshnikov is currently in Ukraine and holds dual citizenship.

The case against the activist began to be heard in court at the end of July. At the time, it was not clear what had triggered the prosecution.

According to TASS, in February 2023, Mikhail Oreshnikov published a photo in his Telegram channel of the courtyard of the head of the Chuvashia branch of the “E” Centre, “with an insulting caption and threats” (OVD-Info was unable to find this and the next post).

Later, according to the court, the activist posted material that allegedly “incited hatred against staff of the regional Centre for Combating Extremism and the FSB.”

Security forces also claimed that in March of that year, Oreshnikov called an FSB officer and threatened them with violence. He also posted a recording of the call in his channel.

“It is noted that threats against law enforcement officers were posted in May and November 2023 as well,” TASS reports.

• In 2023, Oreshnikov’s relatives had their home searched, and Oreshnikov himself was soon arrested in absentia. At that time, the case file listed articles for use of force against a government official (Part 1, Article 318) and incitement to hatred.
• In 2014, a case was opened against Oreshnikov for use of force against a police officer. He was detained when he planned to organise a May Day demonstration in support of Ukraine.
• Due to the prosecution, Oreshnikov left Russia for Ukraine, where he still lives. In 2022, the activist founded a movement advocating for Chuvashia’s independence. While he lived in Russia, Oreshnikov led the Chuvashia branch of the far-right “Restrukt” movement.