Nikita Voitsekhovsky and Dmytry Ionov are political prisoners
A Moscow student and a football fan from the Moscow Oblast were accused of collaborating with the Russian Volunteer Corps over graffiti
Nikita Voitsekhovskyi is a citizen of Belarus and a student at the Moscow University of Finance and Law. Dmytry Ionov, from Lyubertsy in the Moscow Oblast, is a supporter of Moscow’s Spartak football club, an employee of a shop selling supporters’ clothing and merchandise, and the father of a teenager with a disability.
Beginning in early 2023, Ionov regularly painted graffiti along railway lines expressing support for the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and Ukraine, criticising Putin, and calling for the release of political prisoners. Photographs of the graffiti were subsequently published on the Telegram channel Posledniy Russkiy (‘The Last Russian’), which the investigation claims is linked to the RVC.
In mid-2024, Ionov met Voitsekhovsky, showed him his graffiti, and they created several more pieces together. Photographs of these were also published on the same Telegram channel. Soon afterwards, Voitsekhovskyi attempted to leave Russia—according to the prosecution, in order to join the RVC and take part in combat operations—but was unable to do so because he had been banned from leaving the country.
On 14 May 2025, security officers detained Voitsekhovsky. He was 20 years old at the time. The student was first sentenced to 13 days of administrative detention and was then remanded in custody. He was charged with publicly justifying terrorism online and participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation (both under the Russian Criminal Code), the organisation in question being the Russian Volunteer Corps, which has been designated a terrorist organisation in Russia. According to the prosecution, Voitsekhovsky joined the RVC, painted the graffiti on its instructions, and, through an acquaintance who also painted graffiti but managed to leave Russia, sent photographs for publication.
On 6 August 2025, the 37-year-old Ionov was detained. During searches, officers seized 110 cans of spray paint in various colours, stickers described as being of an ‘extremist nature’, mobile phones, and a laptop. He was charged under the same criminal provisions as Voitsekhovskyi, although his case is being heard separately.
Nikita Voitsekhovsky fully admitted guilt and gave evidence against Dmytry Ionov and, apparently, other members of the football supporters’ community who opposed the war against Ukraine. On 25 November 2025, the court found Voitsekhovsky guilty and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony and a fine of 300,000 roubles. On appeal, the sentence was modified; it is possible that the prison term was reduced.
Dmytry Ionov’s trial began in May 2026. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and, reportedly, a new criminal case on charges of high treason. According to some reports, he, like Voitsekhovsky, was subjected to violence during the investigation.
We believe that neither Ionov’s nor Voitsekhovsky’s actions constitute a criminal offence. We doubt that they joined the Russian Volunteer Corps or painted graffiti on its instructions. The only evidence supporting this claim comes from Voitsekhovsky’s testimony, which may have been given in exchange for a comparatively lenient sentence. Representatives of the RVC deny assigning such tasks, and it is obvious that participation in the organisation is not required in order to paint graffiti and send photographs for publication on Telegram. In any event, the RVC was wrongfully designated a terrorist organisation in Russia, and any prosecution based on that designation is unlawful.
The severe sentence imposed on Voitsekhovsky, and the punishment sought against Ionov, are linked to their support for Ukraine and are intended to intimidate people who oppose the war.
A detailed description of Voitsekhovsky’s and Ionov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Nikita Voitsekhovsky and Dmytry Ionov at the following address:
RU:
107996, Москва, ул. Матросская тишина, д. 18, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по г. Москве,
Войцеховский Никита Романович, 2005 г. р.
Ионов Дмитрий Александрович, 1988 г. р.
EN:
Voitsekhovsky Nikita Romanovich (born 2005)
Ionov Dmytry Aleksandrovich (born 1988)
Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the city of Moscow, 18 Matrosskaya Tishina Street, Moscow, 107996, Russia
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
Dmytro Ionov’s relatives are raising funds for his legal defence:
IBAN: DE76100500001072320203
Account holder: Kuzmova Nadezhda
USDT (TRC-20):
TEKijseaWG1n8idqjPD3LCvH1Lm3xfYzqR
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
