In Cherepovets, a sentence was passed for calls for xenophobic violence on social networks

A resident of Cherepovets posted at least 21 comments on one social network calling for xenophobic violence. He was sentenced to a year of forced labor. The mobile phone used to commit the crime was confiscated to the state.

On May 12, 2026, the Cherepovets City Court of the Vologda Region issued a verdict in the criminal case of 38-year-old native of Saratov Artem Osipov.

According to the joint press service of the courts, from April 2024 to December 2024, “feeling hatred towards people of Caucasian and Asian nationalities, as well as migrants,” he posted at least 21 comments on posts in open communities on one of the social networks. In his comments, he “called for the use of violence, murder, and infliction of grievous bodily harm against ... residents of the Caucasus, Central Asia, migrants, Muslims, as well as members of their families.”

He was convicted under Part 2 of Art. 280 of the Criminal Code (public calls for extremist activities).

The defendant fully admitted his guilt, repented of his deeds, contributed to the investigation of the crime, and voluntarily gave up the mobile phone that was used as a weapon in the commission of the crime. The criminal case was considered in a special court procedure - without examining the evidence.

The court sentenced him to one year of forced labor with the deduction of 10% of his monthly salary to the state.

The mobile phone used to commit the crime was confiscated to the state.

Sources

• The court sentenced a Cherepovsk resident for public calls for extremism on the Internet // Telegram channel of the united press service of the courts of the Vologda region. 2026. May 14.
• CASE No. 1-308/2026 // Cherepovets City Court of the Vologda Region. 2026. May 12.