Aleksei Sobolev is a political prisoner
A resident of Komi was sentenced to six years in a penal colony for comments made online; his father, who went to fight in the war in the hope of helping his son, was killed
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksei Sobolev a political prisoner. Sobolev was convicted on charges of public justification of terrorism and making public calls to engage in extremist activity for comments he made online. Sobolev’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand his immediate release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Aleksei Sobolev?
Aleksei Sobolev was detained on 28 August 2024 in the village of Nizhny Odes in the Komi Republic where he lived with his mother. After his home was searched, he was initially jailed for 14 days on an administrative-law charge, allegedly for ‘resisting the Russian National Guard.’ He was then remanded in custody on charges of publicly justifying terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and publicly calling for people to engage in extremism (Article 280, Part 2, CC RF).
The grounds for these charges were comments he had posted on social media in 2024. At the time, Sobolev had expressed support for the Azov Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (for which he was charged with justifying terrorism). He also called Putin, the Russian army and supporters of the war Nazis and fascists who should be sent to help rebuild Ukraine and then to the gas chambers (these comments were classified as incitement to extremism). The prosecution considered Sobolev’s words expressed political and ideological hatred.
Hoping for leniency for his son, Aleksei’s father joined the Russian army to fight against Ukraine but was soon killed in the Kursk Oblast. Aleksei Sobolev learned of this in the courtroom.
On 2 April 2025, a military court sentenced Sobolev to six years in a penal colony.
Why do we consider Aleksei Sobolev a political prisoner?
Aleksei Sobolev’s comments in support of the Azov Battalion and the Russian Volunteer Corps do not constitute justification for terrorism. These units, which are part of the Ukrainian armed forces, have been unlawfully designated as terrorist organisations in Russia for purposes of propaganda. The units are involved in repelling Russian aggression, which has been condemned by the UN General Assembly. In international law, participation in combat operations as part of official military units cannot be classified as terrorism.
Sobolev’s emotional remarks about supporters of the war sound harsh but were not a call to violence. Rather, they were a figurative expression of an extremely negative assessment of such individuals. Such comments by an ordinary internet user do not pose a danger to society and therefore cannot serve as grounds for criminal prosecution. Furthermore, we believe Sobolev’s anti-war stance mitigates any public danger of his actions.
A detailed description of the case of Aleksei Sobolev and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Aleksei Sobolev at the following address:
RU:
Российская Федерация, 162840, Вологодская область, г. Устюжна, ул. Карла Маркса, д. 57, ФКУ ИК-20 УФСИН России по Вологодской области, Соболев Алексей Денисович, 2000 г. р.
EN:
Aleksei Denisovich Sobolev (born 2000), Penal Colony No. 20, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Vologda Oblast, 57 Karla Marksa Street, Ustyuzhna, Vologda Oblast, 162840, 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.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
