World · Europe · 6 hrs ago
St Petersburg court jails 16-year-old in terrorism case
A court in St Petersburg ordered 16-year-old Vladimir held in custody on an accusation of aiding terrorism.
Investigators say he agreed to move a gun between hiding places for an attack on law-enforcement officers.
He thought he was messaging members of the Russian Volunteer Corps, an armed group fighting on Ukraine’s side, but the people messaging him were Russian FSB officers.
The FSB gave him the location of a weapons stash, and he was arrested after going there on October 15.
Vladimir denies the accusation and asked the court to release him to house arrest or place him with a guardian.
The Russian Volunteer Corps is designated a terrorist organisation by Russian authorities, and aiding terrorism carries a prison term of 12 to 20 years in Russia.
The court ordered him held for two months; the case now proceeds while he remains in custody.
A St Petersburg court ordered a 16-year-old named Vladimir held in pre-trial detention on a charge of assisting terrorism.
The Kalininsky District Court ordered his detention for two months, according to one report.
Investigators say he agreed to move a weapon between hiding places for an attack on law enforcement officers.
Reports say he believed he was communicating with representatives of the Russian Volunteer Corps, but was actually messaging FSB officers.
Vladimir denies the charge and asked the court for house arrest or supervision by a family member.
- Who
- Vladimir, a 16-year-old from St Petersburg, was charged. He denies the charge.
- What
- A court ordered him held in pre-trial detention on suspicion of assisting terrorism.
- When
- The court ruling was reported on October 17, 2026. He received coordinates to a weapons cache on October 15.
- Where
- St Petersburg, Russia.
- Why
- Investigators allege he agreed to move a weapon for an attack on law enforcement officers and to destabilise government activity.
Investigators
Vladimir
Alleged conduct
Investigators
Investigators say he agreed to move a weapon between hiding places for an attack on law enforcement officers.
Vladimir
Vladimir denies the charge.
Communications
Investigators
Investigators say he communicated with him from September to October after identifying him.
Vladimir
Reports say Vladimir thought he was communicating with representatives of the Russian Volunteer Corps.
Detention
Investigators
The court ordered him held in pre-trial detention.
Vladimir
He asked for house arrest or supervision by a family member.
FSB officers communicated with Vladimir, according to reports.
Vladimir received coordinates to a weapons cache and was detained after going there.
Reports said the Kalininsky District Court ordered Vladimir held in pre-trial detention.
- Age
- 16
- Name
- Vladimir; his surname was not reported
- Court
- Kalininsky District Court, St Petersburg
- Charge
- Assisting terrorism
- Detention
- Two months, according to Nastoyashchee Vremya
- Date of arrest
- October 15, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
for their subsequent use for unlawful purposes related to an attempt on the lives of law enforcement officers and destabilising the activities of government bodies