Aleksei Rozhkov is a political prisoner
An anarchist from Sverdlovsk Oblast is accused of attempting to set fire to a military recruitment centre, publicly justifying this arson, and spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project , in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksei Rozhkov a political prisoner. Rozhkov is being prosecuted on charges of attempted terrorism, public justification of terrorism, and spreading information known to be false about the Russian army. Rozhkov’s criminal prosecution violates his right to fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Aleksei Rozhkov and an end to his prosecution on ‘fake news’ and terrorism-related charges. We also demand that his allegations he was tortured be investigated.
What are the charges against Aleksei Rozhkov?
Aleksei Rozhkov is a musician, artist, and anarchist from the town of Beryozovsky in Sverdlovsk Oblast. On 11 March 2022, Rozhkov threw three Molotov cocktails through the window of the local military recruitment centre and painted a peace sign on a nearby building. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured, but Rozhkov was remanded in custody and charged with ‘attempted murder motivated by hooliganism.’ Six months later, the charge was reduced, and he was released pending trial under travel restrictions. Shortly after that, he went to Kyrgyzstan.
In January 2023, Rozhkov appeared on the YouTube channel Khodorkovsky LIVE, where he spoke about the attempted arson of the military recruitment centre. He also discussed the war, saying conscripts were being sent to the front and Russian forces were committing genocide in Ukraine.
On 30 May 2023, Aleksei Rozhkov was detained in Bishkek and taken to Russia, where he claims he was tortured with electric shocks. He was again remanded in custody, and the charge of attempted arson was again reclassified, this time as ‘attempted terrorism’ (Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code). In addition, his comments on YouTube led to two further charges: ‘justification of terrorism’ (Article 205.2, Part 2) and ‘dissemination of fake news about the Russian army motivated by hatred of a group of persons’ (Article 207.3, Part 2).
On 3 April 2024, the case went to court, and Rozhkov now faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted on all charges.
Why do we consider Rozhkov a political prisoner?
It is wrong to classify Rozhkov’s attempted arson of a military recruitment centre as terrorism. An essential element of an act of terrorism is the intent to ‘intimidate the public,’ but Rozhkov’s aim was to protest Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to the investigative authorities, damage from the arson attempt amounted to less than 1,300 roubles. Such actions should rather be classified as ‘deliberate damage to property.’ Since the attempted arson does not constitute terrorism, Rozhkov’s interview with journalists about what he did does not constitute justification of terrorism.
The article on ‘dissemination of information known to be false about the actions of the Russian army,’ under which Rozhkov is also being prosecuted, was adopted into law immediately after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This law violates the civil right to freedom of expression and contradicts the Russian Constitution. Any charges brought under it are unlawful. The statements made by Rozhkov on Khodorkovsky LIVE were either expressions of opinion or affirmations of widely known facts. Therefore, they cannot be considered to be ‘information known to be false.’
A detailed description of Aleksei Rozhkov’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 write to Aleksei Rozhkov at the following address:
In Russian: 620019, г. Екатеринбург, ул. Репина, д. 4, СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области, Рожкову Алексею Игоревичу 1997 г. р.
In English: Aleksei Igorevich Rozhkov (born 1997), Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Sverdlovsk Oblast, 4 Repina Street, Yeaterinburg, 620019, Russia.
You can also send an electronic message via ZT (for payments with Russian bank cards) or OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Aleksei Rozhkov is supported by Solidarity Zone.
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.
