Usman Baratov is a political prisoner
Head of the Uzbek community stands accused of inciting hatred towards participants in Russia’s war with Ukraine for a post on social media
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Usman Baratov a political prisoner. Baratov is being prosecuted on a charge of incitement of hatred or enmity towards a social group for a cartoon he reposted that pro-Kremlin bloggers consider insulting to the Russian military. Baratov’s prosecution violates his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial.We demand that Usman Baratov be released, that all criminal charges against him be dropped, and that an investigation be opened into his alleged beating during his detention.
Who is Usman Baratov and what are the charges against him?
Usman Baratov is president of Vatandosh, an association of the Uzbek community in Russia.
On 17 December 2023, on his page on the Odnoklassniki social media site, Baratov published a post related to the discussion of the sharp rise in price of hens’ eggs. The post included an image of a chicken and the caption, ‘Screw you — no eggs. Bring the roosters back from the front.’
A month later, pro-Kremlin bloggers began arguing that the cartoon alluded to the wives of mobilised soldiers sent to fight in Ukraine. They filed a collective petition to the head of the Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, demanding that a criminal investigation be opened against the head of the Uzbek community.
On 18 January 2024, a criminal investigation was opened against Baratov for public incitement of hatred or enmity towards a social group (Article 282, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). A forensic assessment ordered by the investigative authorities concluded that the description of participants in Russian combat operations in Ukraine as roosters is offensive because, in Russian criminal slang, it is ‘a term used to denote passive homosexual males.’
That day, Baratov was detained. Baratov has alleged that during his arrest he was severely beaten.
On 19 January, Baratov was remanded in custody. If convicted, he faces up to six years’ imprisonment.
Why do we consider Baratov a political prisoner?
The law on incitement of hatred against a social group, the charge on which Baratov is being prosecuted, is increasingly being used by the authorities to persecute dissidents. Russian and international law guarantee everyone freedom of expression and thought. No one should be imprisoned for satirical statements.
The charge against Baratov of insulting the Russian military is unfounded and absurd. The conclusion of the forensic assessment that the word ‘roosters’ is insulting because it has a certain meaning in Russian criminal slang is particularly baffling.
The very practice of bringing criminal charges on the basis of denunciations by pro-Kremlin bloggers is wrong. It would seem Baratov is also being prosecuted for speaking out against the assimilation of ethnic minorities, as well as criticising the use of the word russky [‘of Russian ethnicity’] as opposed to rossiysky [‘of the Russian state’]. It was after this that pro-Kremlin bloggers discovered the cartoon with chickens on Baratov’s social media page.
A detailed description of Usman Baratov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Usman Baratov at the following address:
In Russian: 142900, Московская область, г. Кашира, ул. Советская, д. 2, ФКУ СИЗО-5 УФСИН России по Московской области, Баратову Усману Акрамовичу, 1958 г. р.
In English: Usman Akramovich Baratov (born 1958), Remand Prison No. 5, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Moscow Oblast, 2 Sovetskaya Street, Kashira, Moscow Oblast, 142900, Russia.
You can send an email via Zonatelecom (for payment with Russian cards), PrisonMail (for other cards), or OVD-Info (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.
