Galina Archagova is a political prisoner
A pensioner from Moscow has been committed to a psychiatric hospital after being charged with justifying terrorism and making online calls to engage in extremism
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international criteria, considers Galina Archagova a political prisoner. Archagova was committed to a psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment, having been charged with the criminal offences of justifying terrorism and making online calls for people to engage in extremist activity. Archagova’s criminal prosecution violated her rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand that Galina Archagova be released from the psychiatric hospital and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.
What were the charges against Galina Archagova?
A criminal case against Moscow pensioner Galina Archagova was opened on 27 February 2024. The next day, she was detained, and the following day, she was remanded in custody.
Archagova was charged with justifying terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code) and making calls to engage in extremism (Article 280, Part 2) for posts she made on her VK page. The posts included reposted videos of Ukrainian speakers, as well as Russian opposition figures Michael Nacke and Vladimir Osechkin. She also shared her thoughts on the death of Aleksei Navalny, whom she called a heroic martyr. The grounds for the charge of justifying terrorism were a video by the Free Russia Legion.
Throughout the year, Archagova’s custody was repeatedly extended despite requests for her pre-trial conditions to be relaxed.
On 27 February 2025, Galina Archagova was found guilty but exempted from criminal liability, while compulsory measures of a medical nature were ordered in her case. According to our information, she was sent to a psychiatric hospital.
Why do we consider Galina Archagova a political prisoner?
The offences of justifying terrorism and making calls to engage in extremism, for which Galina Archagova was convicted, are used by the Russian authorities for purposes of censorship and suppression of dissent. This is especially true for statements about Russia’s war against Ukraine. We oppose the broad interpretation of the concept of ‘justifying terrorism’ and the unwarranted criminalisation of the actions of those accused of this offence.
At the same time, we believe the court’s decision to designate the Free Russia Legion a terrorist organisation is unlawful and unfounded. The Free Russia Legion is a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces. Its activities during armed hostilities are not terrorism, but participation in the legitimate defence of Ukraine against aggression. Therefore, statements by the Free Russia Legion about this war do not constitute ‘justification of terrorism.’
We consider the prolonged detention of a 66-year-old woman, who cares for her elderly father and whose actions pose no real danger to society, to be outrageous. In letters from the remand prison, she described the harsh conditions of her detention and her deteriorating health. Even though Archagova was almost constantly in prison hospitals because of her poor health, the court found no grounds to relax her pre-trial conditions.
While according to the law, compulsory medical measures can only be imposed when a person is a danger either to themselves or to others, Archagova was committed to a psychiatric hospital. The compulsory psychiatric treatment of Galina Archagova is yet another example of punitive psychiatry being used against dissidents.
A detailed description of Galina Archagova’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the project, ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial,’ agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Galina Archagova at the following address:
RU: 142370, Московская область, Чеховский р-н, c. Троицкое, д. 5, ГБУЗ «ПКБ № 5 ДЗМ», Арчагова Галина Александровна 1958 г. р.
EN: Galina Aleksandrovna Archagova (born 1958), Psychiatric Hospital No. 5, 5 Troitskoe village, Chekhovsky district, Moscow Oblast, 142370, Russia.
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.
