Mikhail Oreshnikov

Leader of the movement for the independence of Chuvashia. In the late 2000s, he was a member of ultra-right-wing groups. In May 2009, Oreshnikov and his friend were detained in connection with an attempt to set fire to a police station: according to the investigation, this was a reaction to the death of Maxim Bazylev, leader of the National Socialist Society, in a Moscow detention centre. Oreshnikov was sentenced to one and a half years in a general regime penal colony on charges of attempted destruction of property and hooliganism motivated by political hatred. Once released, he became a member of the far-right movement Restrukt and organised "Russian marches". On 1 May 2014, Oreshnikov planned to hold a rally in support of Ukraine, but he was detained near his home and taken to the police station. The activist claims he was beaten at the police station. After the events at the police station, a case of violence against a representative of the authorities was opened against him. Soon Oreshnikov was detained at Moscow's Domodedovo airport, but was released on recognisance not to abscond.

Oreshnikov left Russia for Ukraine, where he sought political asylum. In November 2020, he was detained at Jakarta airport, and the Russian Federation tried to get him extradited.

On 17 May 2023, Oreshnikov's relatives in Cheboksary were searched. No later than September, he was taken into custody in absentia. It became known that a case of incitement to hatred with the threat of violence on three episodes was also brought against him. Then came the accusation of calls to extremism.

On 28 August 2025, the court sentenced Oreshnikov in absentia to seven and a half years in a general regime penal colony on the case of incitement to hatred and calls to extremism.

In February 2026, an asterisk appeared next to Oreshnikov's name on the Rosfinmonitoring's list of extremists and terrorists, which is placed next to the names of those prosecuted under terrorist articles.