Resident of Stavropol Territory sentenced for preparing a terror act

Alexander Bogdanov, a resident of the Stavropol Territory, has been sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime penal colony on charges of involvement in a terrorist organization and preparing a terror act.

His case was considered by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. He was charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, preparing a terror act, as well as illegally manufacturing and trafficking in explosives and explosive devices. According to the prosecution, on July 9, 2023, Bogdanov entered into correspondence with a member of the Ukrainian unit "Azov"*, declaring his desire to join the organization and participate in its activities in Russia. Two days later, on July 11, he recorded a video message with an oath and sent it to his interlocutor.

Alexander Bogdanov told Ukrainians that he worked at one of the defence industry enterprises of the Stavropol Territory and was ready to organize an explosion of a gas or transformer substation at this enterprise, says the report posted by the press service of the above court.

According to investigators, on September 24, 2023, Bogdanov bought and brought home components for making explosives and a homemade bomb, about which he also filmed a video report and sent to his contact. He didn’t manage to complete his plan; on October 5, he was detained by law enforcers.

The court sentenced Bogdanov to 18 years in a high security penal colony with serving first four years in prison and a fine of 800,000 roubles. The above post of the court doesn’t specify whether Bogdanov agreed with the charges.

According to the court card directory, Bogdanov's case was heard since November 2024; and his sentence was handed down on May 7, 2025. So far, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments from Bogdanov or his advocate regarding the sentence and plans to appeal against it.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 9, 2025 at 02:55 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

*In February 2022, the Brigade led the defence of Mariupol at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Around 2000 Ukrainian soldiers were captured by Russia in Mariupol in May 2022. On August 2, 2022, the Russian Supreme Court recognized the “Azov” Regiment as a terrorist organization. Participation in the Azov is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.