Vladimir Gorenkov

Resident of the Kemerovo region, a blacksmith. Eco-activist, actively fought against coal mining in the region. On 29 August 2019, he was searched as a witness in the case of arson of a tractor at one of the coal mines. During the search, a shotgun was found in Gorenkov's house, and a case of illegal possession of weapons was opened against him. On 22 November 2019, he was sentenced to a fine of 10,000 rubles. On 7 February 2020, the Court of Appeal cancelled the sentence. On 21 May 2020, the court dismissed the case on reconsideration, obliging Gorenkov to pay the court fine.

On 9 October 2021, Gorenkov was detained. At the same time, the law enforcers read him and his wife a search warrant, again in the case of weapons possession, but did not conduct a search. Gorenkov was forced into the car barefoot. He was taken to the police station, where the policemen drew up a report on disobedience to the lawful order of the police officer (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) in connection with a certain incident that took place in July: then the court returned the report to the police because it did not specify the circumstances of the offence. After the detention on 9 October, Gorenkov spent two days in the police station until the court returned the report to the police again.

On 23 November 2022, Gorenkov was searched again - this time he was accused of setting fire to a bulldozer, as well as carriages at the coal mine. According to the investigation, he carried out the arson together with an unidentified person, as well as threatened the guard of the coal mine with a shotgun and took his mobile phone. In addition, Gorenkov was accused of threatening to kill employees of the coal-mining firm - once with a pitchfork and once with an axe.

Gorenkov said that he had indeed been on the territory of the coal mine at the specified time, where, at the suggestion of a man he did not know, he began to write inscriptions on a carriage. He said that he told the guard to hand over the phone, but he did not point the gun at him. According to Gorenkov, afterwards he saw the bulldozer (a tractor in his testimony) on fire, realised that he had been set up, and left. In response to the accusations of death threats, he said that on one occasion he had been threatened with a gun, and on another occasion he had been shot at and beaten. He claimed that he had not pointed either a pitchfork or an axe at people, but had kept the tools with him in self-defence.

On 11 March 2023, Gorenkov was detained for two days again. This happened the day after a fight between local villagers and representatives of a coal mining firm. Gorenkov was reportedly beaten and threatened with death.

On 8 November 2024, Gorenkov was sentenced to one year and seven months in a penal colony.

His supporter Sergei Sheremetev considers the case against him as revenge on the part of "coal miners". According to him, "using Vladimir Anatolievich's impulsive nature, the guards of the Apanasovsky open-pit mine provoked him to take up a pitchfork and an axe in self-defence". He also notes that "the crimes of the coal miners themselves, such as beatings of residents, including women, use of firearms, robberies, damage and arson of property, remained unpunished".