A Russian activist from Saint Petersburg, known for her anti-war actions and criticism of the Russian army.
FULL NAME: Daria Aleksandrovna Kozyreva
DATE OF BIRTH: October 7, 2005
CHARGES: Part 1, Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code
SENTENCE: Two years and eight months in a general penal colony
DATE OF ARREST: February 27, 2024
DATE OF BIRTH: October 7, 2005
CHARGES: Part 1, Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code
SENTENCE: Two years and eight months in a general penal colony
DATE OF ARREST: February 27, 2024
Criminal prosecution
In December 2022, at the age of 17, Daria Kozyreva wrote the words “Murderers, you bombed it to rubble. Judases” on the “Two Hearts” art installation in Palace Square, which is dedicated to the sister city relationship between Saint Petersburg and Mariupol. For this, a protocol was drawn up against her under Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation regarding "Discrediting the Use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”
In January 2023, a criminal case was opened against Daria for intentional damage to property (Part 1, Article 167 of the Criminal Code), claiming that her actions caused more than 250 thousand rubles in damages. However, no investigative actions were carried out in this case, and no preventive measures taken.
In December 2023, the Moscow District Court of St. Petersburg fined Daria 30 thousand rubles under Part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for a VKontakte post from March 4, 2022, in which she criticized the laws on “fakes” and “discrediting” the army, and also condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine.
On February 24, 2024, the anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Daria pasted a sheet of paper with an excerpt from Taras Shevchenko’s poem "Testament" onto his monument in St. Petersburg. She was then detained and on February 27, the Petrograd District Court arrested her on charges of repeatedly “discrediting” the army (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code.
In August 2024, a new case against Daria was added over an interview she gave to the YouTube channel Realii (Realities), which was assessed as “discrediting” the army.
On April 18, 2025, Daria was sentenced to two years and eight months in a general penal colony.
In January 2023, a criminal case was opened against Daria for intentional damage to property (Part 1, Article 167 of the Criminal Code), claiming that her actions caused more than 250 thousand rubles in damages. However, no investigative actions were carried out in this case, and no preventive measures taken.
In December 2023, the Moscow District Court of St. Petersburg fined Daria 30 thousand rubles under Part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for a VKontakte post from March 4, 2022, in which she criticized the laws on “fakes” and “discrediting” the army, and also condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine.
On February 24, 2024, the anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Daria pasted a sheet of paper with an excerpt from Taras Shevchenko’s poem "Testament" onto his monument in St. Petersburg. She was then detained and on February 27, the Petrograd District Court arrested her on charges of repeatedly “discrediting” the army (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code.
In August 2024, a new case against Daria was added over an interview she gave to the YouTube channel Realii (Realities), which was assessed as “discrediting” the army.
On April 18, 2025, Daria was sentenced to two years and eight months in a general penal colony.
