Aleksandr Akimushkin is a political prisoner

A blogger from Arkhangelsk Oblast has been sentenced to 20 months in a penal colony on a charge of ‘discrediting’ Russia’s army for VK posts

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international criteria, considers Aleksandr Akimushkin a political prisoner. Akimushkin has been convicted on a charge of publicly ‘discrediting’ the Russian armed forces for posts on social media. Akimushkin’s prosecution violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand Akimushkin’s release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

Who is Aleksandr Akimushkin and what were the charges against him?

Aleksandr Akimushkin, from the village of Selmenga in Vinogradovsky district of Arkhangelsk Oblast, calls himself a ‘citizen of the USSR.’ He frequently posted materials about political and social issues on his VK page, including criticism of Putin and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

As a result, Akimushkin was repeatedly prosecuted under Russian administrative law. In October 2022, he was charged with ‘public actions aimed at discrediting the Russian armed forces’ for posts critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, another charge was laid against him for the same offence. While the first administrative case against him was dismissed on procedural grounds, Akimushkin was later fined in a second case.

In May 2024, Akimushkin was detained on the charge of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army (Article 280.3 of the Russian Criminal Code). While it is not known exactly which posts this referred to, the blogger was then banned from engaging in certain activities, pending trial. When he failed to appear at court hearings, he was detained and forcibly brought to court.

On 19 September 2024, a court in Arkhangelsk sentenced Akimushkin to 20 months in a general-regime penal colony.

Why do we consider Akimushkin a political prisoner?

The article on repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army was adopted into law after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The law is intended to silence dissent and effectively bans any criticism of the war or of the Russian government. It violates the right to freedom of expression and contradicts the principle of legal certainty. Moreover, punishing someone for repeated ‘discrediting’ essentially means being prosecuted twice for one and the same act, in contradiction of a fundamental principle of law. This article should be repealed from the Russian Criminal Code, all related criminal convictions quashed, and ongoing prosecutions dropped.

While we do not know for which posts Akimushkin was prosecuted, the very fact that a criminal case was opened on a charge of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army shows that this is a politically motivated prosecution related to criticism of the war against Ukraine.

We have reviewed Akimushkin’s social media. While we do not agree with his views on many issues, none of his posts pose a genuine threat to society. On the contrary, criticism of the war serves the public interest.

A detailed description of Aleksandr Akimushkin’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 donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.