Zhilenkov Artyom Nikolaevich

On March 5, 2024, the FSB of Russia for the Altai Territory detained three residents of the Novosibirsk region in Barnaul - 18-year-old Dmitry Rodkin, 22-year-old Sergey Dementyev, and 26-year-old Artem Zhilenkov. Criminal cases were initiated against the Novosibirsk residents for high treason, assistance and financing of terrorist activities, attempted terrorist attack by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, and training for the purpose of committing a terrorist attack. According to the security forces' version, Dementyev, "being opposed to the special military operation conducted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," established contact with representatives of the Ukrainian paramilitary organization Legion "Freedom of Russia," informing them of his readiness to carry out terrorist acts on the territory of Russia. Subsequently, together with his acquaintances Zhilenkov and Rodkin, fulfilling the "curator's" assignments, the defendants collected information about the building of the regional election headquarters of the candidate for the President of the Russian Federation Putin V.V. in Barnaul, manufactured homemade incendiary devices, and before the presidential election wanted to throw Molotov cocktails at Vladimir Putin's election headquarters located in the "United Russia" office at 62 Pushkin Street. It is claimed that the men were detained "directly near the headquarters building while attempting to commit a terrorist attack." All three were sent to a pre-trial detention center. On March 5, 2025, the 2nd Eastern Military Court found the defendants guilty and sentenced Sergey Dementyev to 18 years, Artem Zhilenkov to 17 years, and Dmitry Rodkin to 16 years in a strict regime colony and 2 years of restricted freedom. For the first 3 years, the young men must serve in prison. On June 11, 2025, the Appellate Military Court changed the verdict, details are unknown.