Alexander Shestun

Head of the Serpukhov Municipal District of Moscow Region. On 13 June 2018, he was detained on charges of abuse of power. The next day the court decided to place him in custody. Later also accused of illegal entrepreneurship, fraud and money laundering. On 25 December 2020, sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime colony.

Observers believe that the reason for the prosecution was the confrontation with the governor of the region, the last point was Shestun's support of environmental activists in the fight against rubbish dumps.

In April 2021, a new criminal case was opened against Shestun under three articles at once: threat or violent actions in connection with the administration of justice (part 1 of article 296 of the Criminal Code), insulting a judge (part 2 of article 297 of the Criminal Code) and insulting a representative of the authorities (article 319 of the Criminal Code). On 11 August 2022, Shestun was sentenced to six months in a strict regime colony in this case.

In February 2024, it became known that a case of disorganisation of the colony's activities was also brought against Shestun. On 10 October 2024, he was sentenced in this case to two years in a penal colony.

You can read more about politically persecuted people in the Telegram channel OVD-Info LIVE and our database of politically motivated criminal prosecutions.