Aleksei Grigoryev is a political prisoner
A resident of Orenburg Oblast has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on charges of attempting to set fire to a railway relay cabinet and seeking to join the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksei Grigoryev a political prisoner. Grigoryev was convicted on charges of preparing a terrorist attack, treason, and participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, for allegedly intending to set fire to a railway relay cabinet and join the Free Russia Legion, based on his correspondence in a messaging app. Grigoryev’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that the charge against Grigoryev of preparing to commit a terrorist act be retried in a fair court, and that all other charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Aleksei Grigoryev?
Aleksei Grigoryev, a pawnshop employee from Novotroitsk in Orenburg Oblast, was detained on 22 May 2023. The FSB claimed he had intended to set fire to a railway relay cabinet on the instructions of Ukrainian intelligence services. Grigoryev was charged with preparing a terrorist attack (Article 30, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in conjunction with Article 205, Part 2(a), CC RF) because he had purchased flammable liquid, a spade and binoculars, which he kept on the outskirts of Novotroitsk.
After examining Grigoryev’s phone correspondence, the security services brought two additional charges against him, namely: participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation (Article 205.5, Part 2, CC RF) and preparing to commit treason (Article 30, Part 1, CC RF, in conjunction with Article 275 CC RF). The FSB claimed that Grigoryev had collaborated with the Ukrainian project ‘I Want to Live’ and planned to join the Free Russia Legion.
During the investigation, Aleksei Grigoryev confessed to the charges, but at his trial he claimed he had confessed under torture. Speaking in court about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said: ‘What you are doing is lawlessness, injustice and madness. You are accomplices in the most terrible crime you are committing. You have committed genocide against the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, brotherly peoples.’
On 7 February 2025, Aleksei Grigoryev was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, of which the first five years are to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Aleksei Grigoryev a political prisoner?
According to the Russian Criminal Code, the purpose of a terrorist attack is to intimidate the public and influence the actions of the authorities. While terrorism is a crime that requires direct intent, the investigative authorities failed to prove this in Grigoryev’s case. Grigoryev himself denies he intended to intimidate the public or influence the authorities by setting fire to the railway relay cabinet.
We also consider the charge that Grigoryev participated in a terrorist organisation unfounded. The Free Russia Legion cannot be considered a terrorist organisation. This military unit is subordinate to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, is part of the armed forces of Ukraine, and participates legitimately in the war on the side of Ukraine, a state defending itself against Russian aggression. Participation in an armed conflict cannot in itself be considered a terrorist activity.
The charge of preparing to commit treason in the form of defecting to the enemy is also unlawful. The only prohibited form of participation by a foreigner in hostilities is mercenary activity. Grigoryev’s alleged participation in the Free Russia Legion would not come under the definition of mercenary activity.
A detailed description of Aleksei Grigoryev’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Aleksei Grigoryev at the following address:
RU:
457670, Челябинская область, г. Верхнеуральск, ул. Северная, д. 1, ФКУ Т ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области, Григорьев Алексей Сергеевич, 1997 г. р.
EN:
Aleksei Sergeevich Grigoryev (born 1997), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Chelyabinsk Oblast, 1 Severnaya Street, Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, 457670, Russia.
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
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