Gennady Artemenko
A resident of Dzerzhinsk (Nizhny Novgorod Region). According to the First Department, he was trying to get his mother out of Ukraine, in connection with which he contacted Ukrainian authorities and spoke to his mother on the phone in Ukrainian. At some point, he began receiving notifications that someone was trying to access his email account. On 18 October 2023, Artemenko was detained and then taken into custody. He was charged with possession of explosives - an advocacy group claims he was planted with gunpowder, detonators, draughts and an incendiary tube during a search. According to Artemenko's supporters, the photos were posted on pro-Ukrainian publicks on Telegram. "First Division" notes that Artemenko is a lieutenant colonel in the artillery and missile forces and would be unlikely to keep explosives behind the hot battery where they were found. After the search, he was taken to the FSSB, where they threatened to bring a case against his wife if he did not co-operate with the investigation. He was also subjected to torture. Artemenko was taken into custody. He was not allowed to see his lawyer for a week. In the summer of 2024, Artemenko was charged with high treason for photographing military facilities for the ATESH guerrilla movement. In October 2024 - in public justification of terrorism because of posting anti-war leaflets in Nizhny Novgorod region. Artemenko's phone allegedly contained correspondence with a representative of ATESH, but at the trial the prosecution was unable to provide an expert examination of the correspondence. As evidence of the leaflet-posting charge, a recording is cited, which, according to Unit One, cannot be used to identify the person or confirm the posting of the leaflet. The intent to possess explosives was not proven in the case. "First Department" also notes that, according to the case materials, the door in the basement of the house where Artemenko lived had "Glory to Ukraine" written on it and a Ukrainian trident drawn on it. The wife of the accused stated that the inscription was quite fresh. She tried to get an expert examination, but was refused. In the case there is a testimony of the house manager, who said that only Artemenko's spouses had access to the basement. "First Department" claims that she later admitted that she had taken the keys to the basement to another flat before testifying. The Artemenko's claim that their neighbour always had the keys. On 27 June 2025, Artemenko was sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime colony.