Konstantin Podoshvelev, 57, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by the First Western District Military Court for vandalism, damaging cultural heritage sites, and participating in a terrorist organization. The first three years of his sentence will be served in prison, followed by a strict regime colony. He was also fined 250,000 rubles.

The court found Podoshvelev guilty on June 10. The charges stemmed from inscriptions he made on the walls of the Polytechnic University and churches, as well as his alleged attempts to join the “Freedom of Russia Legion,” an organization banned in Russia and designated as terrorist.

Podoshvelev was arrested in February of last year after inscriptions about murderers appeared on the wall of the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Umilenie” and the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God. Officers from Center “E” and the FSB conducted the arrest.

During the search, authorities discovered correspondence between Podoshvelev and Ukrainian security agencies. The investigation alleges that he sought to join the “Freedom of Russia Legion” and carried out assignments from curators. At the time of his arrest, the inquiry indicated that Podoshvelev was attempting to cross the Russian border to participate in hostilities against Russia.

Originally from Nizhny Tagil, Podoshvelev previously worked in law enforcement in the Khabarovsk Territory in the early 1990s. Later, he was involved in construction-related entrepreneurial activities in St. Petersburg. Podoshvelev did not admit his guilt in court. The state prosecutor had requested an 18-year prison sentence for the defendant.