Stepanov Daniil Vladimirovich

Danil Stepanov, a 30-year-old resident of Aleksin in the Tula region, was detained on a train on his way to Georgia on December 1, 2022. On the same day, the Aleksinsky Interdistrict Court of the Tula Region placed Stepanov in custody. According to the investigation, Stepanov set fire to several Z-banners and painted inscriptions on the buildings of the military enlistment office and city administration, the content of which discredits the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation." In the opinion of the investigation, with his actions he "desecrated buildings and insulted public morality." Charges of vandalism motivated by political hatred were brought against him. Law enforcement officers also stated that they found Ukrainian flags and the flags of the "Freedom of Russia" legion at Stepanov's home, and correspondence with members of this formation on his phone. This became the basis for initiating a case under the article on confidential cooperation with a foreign organization. 27 July 2023, the Tula Regional Court found Daniil Stepanov guilty and sentenced him to 4.5 years in a general regime colony. The verdict was not appealed and entered into legal force.