Parvina Abuzarova is a political prisoner

An Instagram blogger from Kazan was sentenced to 3 years in prison on charges of calling for desertion

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Parvina Abuzarova a political prisoner. The criminal case against her was opened under the article on public calls for actions against state security because of her anti-war posts on Instagram. The criminal prosecution of Abuzarova violates her rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial and is intended to silence voices of dissent against Russia’s war with Ukraine.

We demand the immediate release of Parvina Abuzarova and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.

Who is Parvina Abuzarova and what is the case against her?

30-year-old Parvina (or Parvinakhan as on her ID) Abuzarova from Kazan is a popular Instagram blogger and a designer of Muslim clothing for women. There are more than 80,000 followers on her Instagram page, where she shares thoughts on topical issues.

On 14 February 2023, security service officers searched Abuzarova’s flat. They took away her phone to prevent her from contacting a lawyer. Later, the blogger said she was threatened with the initiation of a criminal case because of the posts in support of Ukraine on Instagram.

Abuzarova moved to another place, but on 31 March security service officers came to her home again to detain and take her for an interrogation.

The blogger was charged under the article on public calls for activities against state security (Article 280.4, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). Investigators claim that she ‘published posts on social media calling for Russian servicemen, taking part in the special military operation in Ukraine, to desert’.

After her detention, Parvina Abuzarova was placed under house arrest.

On 11 September 2023, she was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.

Why do we consider Parvina Abuzarova a political prisoner?

We do not know which post Abuzarova is being prosecuted for. However, the fact that her criminal case started because of ‘calls for desertion’ suggests that the real reason is her anti-war stance.

Article 280.4, under which Abuzarova is charged, appeared in the Russian Criminal Code after Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine began. It is part of repressive enactments into the Criminal Code aimed at prosecuting critics of the Russian invasion and has already become an important tool of military censorship.

We emphasise that ‘the security of the Russian Federation’ is threatened not by a call to avoid being a part of the unlawful armed aggression, but by the war of aggression unleashed by Russia itself.

Further information about this case and the position of the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project 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 of their views, statements, or actions.

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On our website, you can donate to help all political prisoners.