Detention: March 2023, following administrative punishment for publications criticizing Russia's war against Ukraine, a criminal case was initiated against Oleg Valeyev under Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('repeated discrediting of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation'). During the investigation, he was under a travel ban.

Sentence: On November 2, 2023, the Russia-controlled Feodosia City Court found Oleg Valeyev guilty under Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in a settlement colony, with a prohibition on administering internet resources for three years.

Oleg Anatolyevich Valeyev was born on August 11, 1986. He lived in Feodosia, occupied Crimea. There is no detailed information available in open sources about his education, professional activities, or family. At the time of the criminal prosecution, he was officially unemployed.

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Oleg Valeyev openly expressed an anti-war stance on social media. He posted messages condemning the hostilities, criticizing Russian government policies, and expressing support for Ukraine. These publications became the basis for his subsequent persecution. Human rights defenders emphasize that they did not contain calls for violence or any illegal actions but were an exercise of the right to freedom of speech.

In December 2022, the occupation court in Feodosia held Valeyev administratively liable under the article on 'discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.' The basis was his Telegram post criticizing the Russian army. He was fined 30,000 Russian rubles. This administrative ruling later became the formal reason for opening a criminal case for repeated similar offenses.

In March 2023, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against him. According to the investigation, Oleg Valeyev posted messages on the social network 'VKontakte' allegedly 'discrediting' the Russian army and negatively assessing the participation of Russian military forces in the war against Ukraine. The defense emphasized that the charges were essentially based solely on his personal political statements.

On November 2, 2023, the Feodosia City Court sentenced Oleg Valeyev to 1 year and 6 months in a settlement colony and additionally prohibited him from administering websites and social media pages for three years. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized him as a political prisoner, noting that Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation contradicts international standards of freedom of expression and is used by Russia to suppress anti-war statements.

Subsequently, Oleg Valeyev served the assigned sentence. In human rights registries, his case has been archived as a person no longer in custody. Meanwhile, his criminal prosecution continues to be viewed as an example of using Russian legislation to punish civilians for peacefully expressing their opinions on the war.

As of July 26, 2026, Oleg Valeyev has been released after serving his sentence and is not in custody. Human rights organizations continue to consider him a political prisoner, and his case as an example of politically motivated persecution for anti-war statements in occupied Crimea.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Crimea Realities.

Date updated: 26.07.2026.