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The 1st Western District Military Court in St Petersburg has begun hearing the case of 47-year-old Elena Chebotaryova, a resident of Ukhta (a town in the Komi Republic in north-west Russia) who works as a cleaner in the production facilities of the local Gazprom. She is accused of justifying terrorism (part 2 article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). This was reported by Mediazona.
The case was launched over comments made on Odnoklassniki, posted in March 2024.
Under a post about the seizure of the town of Tetkino in Kursk Oblast by fighters from the Freedom of Russia Legion, Chebotaryova wrote: “That’s right, folks, the next direction should be Moscow. Good luck to you!”
Two other comments concerned the Russian Volunteer Corps. Under a post about the “deputinisation of Russia” and “volunteers’ activities” in the border regions, the woman wrote: “The only news that brings me joy is the success of the Russian Volunteer Corps.” Under another publication, she wrote: “The Russian Volunteer Corps fighters never had any illusions and always knew that the Russian authorities only understand the language of force.”
Two of Chebotaryova’s colleagues gave evidence against her. During the investigation, they said she had sent them messages on WhatsApp about the Russian Volunteer Corps, and had talked about her negative attitude towards the war in Ukraine and towards Vladimir Putin.
The woman admitted guilt. After her detention, she was placed under a travel ban. It is not known exactly when the case was opened against her, but in May 2025 her name appeared on Rosfinmonitoring’s list of “extremists and terrorists.”
Chebotaryova’s mother stated in written testimony that since 2016 the woman has worked as a cleaner at Gazprom. She has a daughter who is a student and has been diagnosed with a nervous system disorder. Chebotaryova spends her entire monthly salary of 30,000 rubles (about US$330) on her daughter’s treatment and education.