Russian courts have cleared hundreds of recently banned hooligans to attend World Cup games, it can be revealed today.
Among convicted thugs allowed to attend games is gun-toting Artyom Koluzayev, 22, a member of hardcore Kollektiv 18 ultra gang.
His stadium ban ended on 1 June despite a conviction for carrying two ‘explosive devices’ to a fixture.
After serving a six month ban the unused ‘pyrotechnical equipment’ was even returned to him following an order by a judge.
Artyom Koluzayev, 22, a member of Kollektiv 18 ultra gang, will be allowed to attend World Cup matches after a six-month ban for carrying explosives into a stadium expired on June 1
Dmitry Anikin, 22, will be among 104 Russian hooligans able to attend at least part of the World Cup after being removed from a government blacklist
Alexander Komov, 28, a Zenit St Petersburg fan, is another convicted thug whose stadium ban expired ahead of the World Cup, meaning he can attend games
Another is banned Zenit St Petersburg fan Alexander Komov, 28, who is cleared to attend games now that his ban has expired.
Of 456 on an official Russian government banned blacklist in May, 104 are now cleared for part or all of the World Cup.
But 352 more involved in stadium clashes, unruliness, or flare incidents have been forbidden to go to matches.
Another banned hooligan register seven months ago had 391 names – and 204 have had their prohibitions lifted or will do during the tournament.
One is masked hooligan Dmitry Anikin, 22, from Ryazan, who will be free to attend games after 30 June.
Fearsome Spartak fan Andrei Volkov, 23, is not banned despite posting a picture of a terrifying pyrotechnic display as flares were ignited on a football train.
Maksim Taurin, 22, of St Petersburg, will not be banned from the tournament despite setting fire to a flag, scarf and T-shirt in a crowded stadium last year, creating a ‘threat’ to the ‘safety, life and health’ of fans including himself.
Maksim Taurin, 22, previously set fire to a flag, a scarf and a t-shirt and then threw the flaming shirt into another part of a stadium, but will be allowed to attend the World Cup
Andrei Volkov, 23, a Spartak fan who posted this image on social media, was banned from entering football stadiums in Russia but will be allowed to attend the World Cup
Andrey Avramenko, 32, was barred from football for unleashing a torrent of abuse at stewards and ‘expressing clear disrespect to society’
Despite his previous offences Avramenko (bottom left) will be allowed to go to the World Cup
He threw the lighted shirt into another sector in the ground.
Andrey Avramenko, 32, St Petersburg, gets the all-clear to attend games despite being earlier forbidden for a torrent of foul-mouthed language against stewards ‘expressing clear disrespect to society’
Similarly, Yury Kostryukov, 27, shown with a lighted flare in a stadium, was drunk and disorderly at an unspecified game but will be free to attend next summer’s tournament.
The Kremlin has vowed there will be no repeat of the ugly Battle of Marseilles scenes at Euro-2016 when English and Russian fans clashed in street battles.
And we can reveal the faces of some off the hooligans who remain banned from the tournament which kicks-off tomorrow.
Dmitry Dmitriyev, 22, pictured holding a knife to a man’s neck, is banished from all sporting events for 18 months after throwing an illegal flare inside a Moscow stadium.
Hundreds of hooligans still remain banned, however, including Dmitry Dmitriyev who is serving an 18-month sentence for throwing a flare
Anton Trushkin, 28, will not be going to the World Cup after he scaled a 5ft stadium fence and threatened ‘life and safety’
Lokomotiv Moscow fan Sergey Komissarov, 24, was banned for unruly behaviour and will have to stay away from World Cup games
Lokomotiv Moscow fan Sergey Komissarov, 24, remains banned for unruly behaviour after attending a game in a state of ‘alcoholic poisoning’.
Pistol-toting Anton Trushkin, 28, pictured in a Vladimir Putin shirt with the slogan ‘Guarding Russia’, is not permitted in stadiums after climbing a 5ft stadium fence threatening ‘life and safety’.
Evgeny Koblyakov, 33, is banished until November 2019 for using flares at a Zenit St Petersburg game.
Arseny Brazhayev, 20, pictured climbing a security fence with a flare, is banned for the entire World Cup.
Flare-wielding Evgeny Zherdov, 34, remains banned for being drunk and offensive at a Moscow game.
Arseny Brazhayev, 20, pictured climbing a security fence with a flare, is banned for the entire World Cup
Flare-wielding Evgeny Zherdov, 34, remains banned for being drunk at a Moscow game