Mariia Makhmutova is a political prisoner
The blogger, who criticised Russia Day, was sentenced to a low-security penal colony for allegedly insulting and assaulting police officers
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Mariia Makhmutova a political prisoner. Makhmutova was convicted of insulting a police officer and using non-dangerous violence against another police officer in retribution by the authorities for her criticism of Russia Day and of participants in the ‘Special Military Operation.’ Makhmutova’s prosecution and conviction violated her rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand that Mariia Makhmutova be released immediately and that her case be reviewed in a fair trial.
What were the charges against Mariia Makhmutova?
Mariia Makhmutova is a blogger from Irkutsk Oblast and has a young child. She ran a blog on Instagram where she wrote about her life, often in an eccentric and profane manner, and had 5,000 followers.
On 12 June 2025, Russia Day, Mariia Makhmutova posted a video in which she criticized both the public holiday and the war against Ukraine. She declared she would celebrate by drinking wine ‘if all the guys on the Special Military Operation die.’
Z-bloggers launched an online bullying campaign against Makhmutova and filed a complaint against her. The next day, security forces broke down the door of Makhmutova’s apartment and took her away for a medical examination. She was then held in a neurological clinic for several days. Makhmutova refused to apologize for her statements, arguing that she has the right to express opinions that may differ from those of others.
Makhmutova was twice jailed for alleged administrative-law offences of using violence against a police officer and using psychotropic substances without a prescription. She was also fined for the administrative-law offence of ‘discrediting’ the army.
On 18 June 2025, a criminal case was opened against Makhmutova for insulting a police officer (Article 319 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). On 10 July, she was remanded in custody and then an additional charge was brought against her of using violence against police officers (Article 318, Part 1, CC RF). The investigative authorities claimed that at the time of one of her arrests, she allegedly struck a police officer several times and bit his arm.
On 6 November 2025, Mariia Makhmutova was sentenced to two years and seven months in a low security penal colony.
Why do we consider Mariia Makhmutova a political prisoner?
We do not condone violence against, or verbal abuse of, police officers. However, we believe Makhmutova was in fact convicted for her criticism of the war against Ukraine.
On her Instagram page, there are videos in which she speaks out against the war, expresses solidarity with Ukraine, sings Ukrainian songs, and criticizes the Russian military. In one video, Makhmutova showed a large cemetery with Russian flags on the graves and wondered what her fellow countrymen had died for.
Makhmutova’s prosecution began after a tip-off from Z-bloggers, and the security forces have gone to great lengths to find ways to punish her. However, the penalty for insulting a police officer is not imprisonment, and the penalty for using violence against a police officer that does not endanger life or health is a fine. Nevertheless, Makhmutova was sent to a low-security penal colony, which, for the mother of a young child, is an excessive, unjust, and politically motivated punishment.
A detailed description of Mariia Makhmutova’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
If you have information about the penal colony in which Mariia Makhmutova is held, please let us know by email at [email protected]
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
