Aleksandr Tyurenko is a political prisoner

The Crimean resident has been sentenced to two years in a penal colony for urinating on Russia’s pro-war installation of the letters V and Z

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksandr Tyurenko a political prisoner. For urinating on an installation of the letters V and Z, set up in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tyurenko was prosecuted and convicted on charges of vandalism ‘motivated by hatred towards Russia’s military,’ desecration of symbols of Russia’s military glory, and insulting the memory of defenders of the Homeland using the Internet. Tyurenko’s criminal prosecution violated his right to fair trial.

We demand that Aleksandr Tyurenko be immediately released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

What were the charges against Aleksandr Tyurenko?

On 25 August 2023, Aleksandr Tyurenko, a resident of Bakhchisaray, in a state of alcoholic intoxication, recorded a video in which, using foul language, he criticised a street installation of the letters V and Z, put up to show support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and then urinated on it. He published the video online.

Although Tyurenko soon deleted the video, it was noticed by the popular pro-war Telegram channel, ‘Crimean Smersh.’ The next day Tyurenko was detained. At the police station, he stated on camera that he repented his act and supported ‘Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin’s Special Military Operation.’ He also apologised to military service personnel and recited a verse of the Russian anthem.

Nevertheless, on 28 August 2023, a court remanded Tyurenko in custody on charges of vandalism ‘motivated by social enmity towards military service personnel participating in the Special Military Operation on the territory of Ukraine’ (Article 214, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). Later, Tyurenko was also charged with ‘publicly insulting the memory of the defenders of the Homeland’ (Article 354.1, Part 4).

On 29 January 2024, Tyurenko was given a suspended sentence of two years and a probation period of two years. He was also banned from publishing materials on the Internet for three years. On 9 April 2024, an appeal court cancelled the suspended sentence and sent Tyurenko to serve two years in a penal colony.

Why do we consider Tyurenko a political prisoner?

We consider Aleksandr Tyurenko’s action improper and unseemly. At the same time, we see no grounds for his criminal prosecution.

The law on vandalism, especially ‘motivated by social enmity’, is often used today as a tool of political repression. The law is ill-defined, which allows its arbitrary application in prosecutions of real and imagined opponents of the authorities.

The laws on desecration of symbols of Russia’s military glory and insulting the memory of defenders of the Homeland are also very vaguely worded. They were intentionally created as tools of political repression and propaganda. We believe these laws should be rescinded.

We believe that an installation of the letters V and Z is neither a significant cultural object nor a symbol of military glory. Therefore, Tyurenko’s actions cannot be considered as desecration.

The investigative authorities and the court did not prove Tyurenko’s actions were politically motivated. Moreover, if Tyurenko did have such a motive, a negative attitude towards Russia’s aggression against Ukraine would reduce, rather than increase, the danger to the public of his actions.

A detailed description of the case of Aleksandr Tyurenko and our position are 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.

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