Resident of Moscow. On 3 May 2023, his home was searched (formally - inspection of the premises, but in fact material evidence was seized as part of a case that was filed later), during which tactical military uniforms, a backpack, binoculars, chevrons with the Azov emblem, tactical glasses, an ammunition pouch, a first aid kit, balaclavas, and ammunition were seized. On the same day Yelmanov was detained and arrested for 10 days under the administrative article on petty hooliganism (Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). On 11 May, he was placed in custody on charges of preparing to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation: according to the investigation, Elmanov was planning to join the Azov battalion.

Yelmanov's father later claimed in court that his son had been subjected to violence.

A letter from Alexander Strukov, a former photographer of Navalny's headquarters, who was detained in the case of calls to terrorism and incitement to hatred, shows that Yelmanov accused his cellmates of being FSB officers and playing an act on him, as well as of putting something in his food to make him unconscious.

According to the project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial" project, "after his detention, Yelmanov developed "acute polymorphic psychotic disorder with symptoms of schizophrenia". According to the materials of the criminal case, Yelmanov behaved inadequately while in the pre-trial detention centre: "he listened to something, showed aggression towards others, shouted incoherent phrases, walked chaotically around the cell, claimed that he heard 'voices' inside his head of a peremptory nature, that he was being 'followed and persecuted', and did not react to comments". Yelmanov was transferred to a psychiatric ward and treated. According to the lawyer, "P.A. Yelmanov as of 10.05.2023 could not understand the nature and significance of criminal proceedings, correctly perceive the circumstances relevant to the criminal case, give testimony, independently perform actions aimed at the implementation of his rights and obligations, as well as to exercise the right to defence in criminal proceedings"."

Later Yelmanov was also accused of preparation for high treason, public justification of terrorism and possession of ammunition. According to the investigation, he approved a strike on the Crimean bridge and also checked the location of an air defence complex on the territory of the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region. At the trial, Yelmanov denied that he was going to join the Azov battalion. According to him, he took the ammunition from the unit where he served as a souvenir. In his own words, he travelled to the place where the air defence complex was located to check information on the Internet. On 27 June 2024, he was sentenced to ten years in a strict regime colony.

You can read more about politically persecuted people in the Telegram channel OVD-Info LIVE and our politically motivated criminal prosecutions in Russia database