Russian authorities decided planning to destroy a virtual property classes as training for terrorism.
I’ve been working at PCMag since November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.
Three teenagers in Russia have been handed lengthy prison sentences for plotting to blow up a Federal Security Services (FSB) building in Minecraft.
As The Moscow Times reports(Opens in a new window), Nikita Uvarov, Denis Mikhailenko, and Bogdan Andreyev hail from Kansk in Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region. All three were 14 when arrested back in June 2020 after it was discovered they were handing out leaflets with the slogan “the FSB is the main terrorist” written on them. Those same leaflets offered support for mathematician Azat Miftakhov who is serving a six year prison sentence on hooliganism charges (and who Russia deems an anarchist).
The arrests allowed each of the teenager’s phones to be searched, which uncovered the plot to blow up a virtual FSB building in Minecraft. According to RadioFreeEurope(Opens in a new window), the trio were accused of developing a game to bomb the FSB building and carry out terrorist acts as retaliation for imprisoning activists the Russian authorities label as terrorists. There was also video footage stored on the phones of them throwing Molotov cocktails at a wall. Combined, it was enough to bring charges related to terrorist activity against all three suspects.
Surprisingly, Mikhailenko and Andreyev pleaded guilty to the single charge of “undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities.” In return, they received three and four year suspended sentences. Uvarov decided to plead not guilty, though, which saw him placed in a pre-trial detention center where he claims to have “been subjected to mental and physical pressure to confess his guilt.” That alleged pressure didn’t work, but Uvarov was handed a more severe sentence of five years in a penal colony.
In his closing statement in court, Uvarov reiterated he was not guilty and that, “I would just like to finish my studies, get an education and go somewhere far away from here, somewhere I don’t irritate anyone from the special services.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t look set to be possible until 2027 now.
As to why creating a game which involves blowing up a virtual building can result in serving time in prison, human rights defenders claim it’s simply a tactic being used by Russia’s security services “to create an atmosphere of fear among young men and women critical of the government.”
Sign up for SecurityWatch newsletter for our top privacy and security stories delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Advertisement
I’ve been working at PCMag since November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.
I hold two degrees: a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Games Development. My first book, Make Your Own Pixel Art, is available from all good book shops.
Read Matthew’s full bio
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
© 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. PCMag Digital Group
PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.
About Author
