Anatoly Burov is a political prisoner

An activist from Vologda has been sentenced to five years in a general-regime penal colony for posting a video of a political prisoner’s last word in court on his Telegram channel

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Anatoly Burov a political prisoner. Burov has been convicted of making public calls to engage in terrorist activity for a video he posted on his Telegram channel. Burov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violate his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Anatoly Burov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

Who is Anatoly Burov and what were the charges against him?

Anatoly Burov, who was secretary of the Vologda city branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, has run for local office multiple times for the Vologda regional legislative assembly and Vologda City Duma. He has been repeatedly prosecuted on administrative-law charges for his political views, in particular for issuing calls to participate in protests in support of Aleksei Navalny.

On 27 May 2023, Burov posted a video from Radio Svoboda on his Telegram channel, Vologda Protest, featuring the last word of political prisoner Mikhail Kriger in court and Kriger’s responses to a journalist’s questions. On 25 October 2023, Burov was arrested, and his apartment was searched. The following day, he was remanded in custody.

Burov was charged with publicly calling for people to engage in terrorist activity and with justifying terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, the video contained a call to assassinate Vladimir Putin. Burov denied the charges.

On 29 May 2024, a military court sentenced Anatoly Burov to five years in a general-regime penal colony.

Why do we consider Burov a political prisoner?

Burov’s actions do not constitute a crime. Kriger’s words contain neither justification of terrorism nor calls to engage in terrorism. When Kriger spoke in court about wishing to live until Vladimir Putin’s execution, he was drawing a parallel with the verdicts of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the execution of war criminals, which was obviously not an act of terrorism, but a punishment handed down by an authorised court as part of an established procedure.

Furthermore, Kriger’s statement was lawfully recorded by video during a court hearing and has not been included in any list of banned materials. Burov had no reason to believe that publishing the video would be considered illegal.

The charge of justifying terrorism is often used by the authorities to prosecute dissenters. We suspect that Burov’s prosecution has been retribution for his political activism.

The final statements of defendants in court should not serve as grounds for fresh criminal prosecutions, as such speeches are a legitimate form of exercise of the right to a legal defence as provided by law.

A more detailed description of Anatoly Burov’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 a letter to Anatoly Burov at the following address:

In Russian: 162840, Вологодская область, г. Устюжна, ул. Карла Маркса, д. 57, ФКУ ИК-20 УФСИН России по Вологодской области, Бурову Анатолию Валентиновичу 1977 г. р.

In English: Anatoly Valentinovich Burov (born 1977), Penal Colony No. 20, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Vologda Oblast, 57 Karla Marksa Street, Ustyuzhna, Vologda Oblast, 162840, Russia.

You can also send an e-mail via ZT (for payments with Russian cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.

You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.ии.