Vadim Kharchenko's* relatives are seeking a meeting with their son.

The parents of blogger Vadim Kharchenko* have not seen him for three years since his arrest; court hearings are held in closed sessions.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Vadim Kharchenko* was convicted on March 12, 2025, by the Gelendzhik City Court of Krasnodar Krai and sentenced to 7 years in a general regime correctional colony. The appellate and cassation instances refused to satisfy the appeals against Kharchenko's* sentence. The blogger's defense reported in February that they are preparing an appeal to the Supreme Court. Kharchenko* is subjected to consecutive placements in a punishment cell in the Novorossiysk pre-trial detention center without explanation, and does not receive medical assistance, his relatives and friends stated.

On September 4, the parents of blogger Vadim Kharchenko* sent a statement to the court requesting a meeting with their son, whom they have not seen for three years since his detention.

"At first, the investigation denied us visits, then the court, and even Vadim himself, through his lawyers, conveyed to us that he did not want to upset us or be upset himself, even if the meeting was allowed. But we miss our son very much, and I hope that Vadim also wants to see us despite everything," said the blogger's mother Natalia Kharchenko, who hopes for a meeting with her son.

The father, Mikhail Kharchenko, noted that even at the trials, parents are not allowed. All of them are held in closed sessions, both for the first case and for the second, which has been ongoing for a year.

"We learned that yesterday our son was brought from the pre-trial detention center No. 3 in Novorossiysk to the Gelendzhik court. Naturally, we were not allowed into the court. They stated that all processes are closed. Vadim* is defended by three lawyers. We know that yesterday, September 3, another hearing took place, somewhere around the twentieth in count. We have already lost track. And we do not know how and in what way he could have offended the feelings of believers; everything is closed and secret," he told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

A source in the court reminded that Vadim Kharchenko* is being tried on seven counts: for offending the feelings of believers and defamation, violation of the right to freedom of conscience and religion, calls for extremist activities (Article 148, Part 1; Article 280, Part 2; Article 128.1, Parts 2 and 5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

This same source notes that "the defense is seeking from the court the questioning of two very important witnesses for the case." "The case is at a stage where all written evidence from the parties has been examined. Kharchenko* does not admit guilt," he noted.

Natalia Kharchenko notes that according to the lawyers, she knows that "her son has lost a lot of weight, his eyesight is catastrophically deteriorating, but he is not allowed to see a doctor."

"The Kharchenko* case is closed; the presence of the media and listeners at the hearings is prohibited. The proceedings are conducted by Judge Shvedchikov Mikhail Vladimirovich. The next hearing has been postponed to September 21 at 14:00, as indicated on the court's website," said a court representative to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

One of the activists, who accidentally met Vadim Kharchenko* in court when he was being escorted through the corridor, said that she hardly recognized him. "He has completely changed. Coming towards me was a real skeleton. Due to his deteriorating eyesight, he probably did not see me. I am outraged at how one can mock a person in isolation," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

* included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice of Russia.

** the activities of the Meta company (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.