Matkheev Aleksandr Dmitrievich

In the Kemerovo region at the end of December 2023, 26-year-old local resident Aleksandr Matkheev was detained. According to the FSB, the young man, being dissatisfied with the current political regime in Russia, using the Telegram messenger, established contact with an unidentified person with the aim of joining the organization Legion 'Freedom of Russia' and traveling to the territory of Ukraine to participate in hostilities against the Armed Forces of Russia. For these purposes, Matkheev acquired tactical and military equipment and, following the coordinator's instructions, purchased train tickets to leave Russian territory. However, Matkheev's actions were thwarted by employees of the Russian FSB, and he was detained in the waiting room of the railway station. In addition, Matkheev posted materials containing terrorist propaganda on the social network VKontakte. The main evidence against him is correspondence with the legion's 'connectors,' one of whom was spotted in the Kuzbass opposition chat (meanwhile, it was the Kemerovo FSB that was involved in the operational development of Matkheev). Matykhina was accused of justifying terrorism, attempted state treason, and participating in "terrorist organization activity." 5. The court sent Matkheev to a pre-trial detention center. On April 16, 2024, the 2nd Eastern Military Court found Alexander Matkheev guilty and sentenced him to 10 years in a strict regime colony with the first 3 years of imprisonment to be served in prison. The court also imposed a fine on Matkheev in the amount of 300 thousand. rubles, restriction of freedom for 1 year 6 months, and deprived him of the right to engage in activities related to placing materials on the Internet for 2 years." August 7, 2024, the Appellate Military Court upheld the verdict.