Kotov Konstantin Aleksandrovich

Kotov Konstantin Aleksandrovich, born February 22, 1985, is a civil activist who actively helps political prisoners; works as a programmer and lives in Moscow. He was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in a general regime penal colony for a crime under Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Repeated violation of the established procedure for organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, march or picket"). He was held in custody from August 12, 2019 to December 16, 2020, when he was released after serving his sentence.

He is accused under part 1 of article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (‘Financing extremist activity’, up to 8 years' imprisonment).

He was deprived of liberty since 22 August 2024, was under house arrest. On 17 January 2025 it became known that Kotov left Russia, was arrested in absentia and put on a wanted list.