Skobov Aleksandr Valerevich

Late in the evening of April 2, 2024, Soviet dissident Alexander Skobov, 66, was detained in St. Petersburg. At the time of Skobov's detention, he was visiting human rights defender Yuli Rybakov. Around 10 p.m., an investigator and escort from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to his home, presented a decision to open a criminal case, and conducted a search. Skobova was accused of justifying terrorism and participating in terrorist activities. The reason for the criminal prosecution was posts in his Telegram channel about the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall and the explosion of the Crimean Bridge." 5. The publicist suggested the involvement of Russian security structures in the terrorist attack, and also called Putin the 'Russian Führer' and 'Nazi dictator'. About the Crimean Bridge, Skobov wrote: "The destruction of the Kerch Bridge is extremely important not only from a purely military point of view, but also from a military-political point of view. In view of the extreme sensitivity of the 'Crimean issue' for the Kremlin and the dictator personally, this could provoke him into impulsive steps, after which NATO countries would no longer be able to avoid direct entry into the war. The charge of participation in a terrorist community is presumably related to Skobov's participation in the "Free Russia Forum. Russia's General Prosecutor's Office recognized the forum as an "undesirable organization" in February 2023. At the time of his arrest, Skobov was not allowed to take his diabetes medication with him. Before the measure of restraint was chosen, he was placed in a temporary detention center. On April 4, the Kalininsky District Court of St. Petersburg sent the dissident into custody. The next day Skobova was taken into custody at the Syktyvkar SIZO. In May 2024, the dissident was sent to a hospital for a psychiatric examination. On August 28, 2024, another criminal case was initiated against Skobov for justifying terrorism. On September 29, 2024, Skobov was charged with new charges under articles on justifying terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist community. The reason for initiating one of the cases was a post on Telegram about the explosion by Daria Trepova of the military correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky in April 2023. All cases against the dissident were combined into one. March 21, 2025, the 1st Western Military District Court found Alexander Skobov guilty and sentenced him to 16 years in prison. For the first 3 years he must spend in prison, the remaining time in a strict regime colony. Also, the court imposed a fine of 300 thousand on Skobova. rubles and a ban on administering internet resources for 4 years. On June 23, 2025, the Appellate Military Court left the verdict unchanged.