Sergei was arrested in August 2021 on politically motivated terrorism charges for his non-violent activities. He reportedly communicated with Interior Ministry officers to persuade them to refuse to carry out criminal orders, and also helped those who were leaving the service and feared persecution.
According to the indictment, from July 2020 to January 2022, "an organized criminal group operated in Belarus, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine and other countries with the goal of committing extremist crimes. The group included radical individuals, including former and current military personnel, law enforcement officers, athletes and businessmen, who sought to seize power illegally." The case involves charges of attempted arson of the home of MP Oleg Gaidukevich in June 2021 and "organizing mass riots."
Sergei was convicted under numerous criminal articles to a long term of imprisonment, the first five of which were prison terms. He was also stripped of his military rank.
