Andrei Gilishev is a political prisoner
A medical laboratory assistant from Tyumen has been sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime penal colony for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion and for anti-war graffiti
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Andrei Gilishev a political prisoner. For intending to assist a Ukrainian unit and for anti-war graffiti, Gilishev was convicted on charges of participation in a terrorist organisation and vandalism motivated by political hatred. His prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Andrei Gilishev and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Andrei Gilishev?
Andrei Gilishev worked as an assistant at an MRI diagnostic centre in Tyumen.
On 6 February 2024, officers from ‘Centre E’ anti-extremism police detained him and, according to Gilishev, tortured him with electric shocks.
According to the investigative authorities, from December 2023 to February 2024 Gilishev participated in the activities of the Free Russia Legion, filling in an online application form and corresponding with a certain ‘Pavel.’ Gilishev wanted to persuade people who supported Putin to change their views and allegedly expressed willingness to assist the Legion as a field medic. In addition, Gilishev painted two pieces of graffiti: a white-blue-white flag on a memorial and the words ‘Russian Orthodox Church for murderers’ on a church fence. The damage was recognised as minimal and of no monetary value.
The investigative authorities classified these actions as participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation (Article 205.5, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code) and vandalism motivated by political hatred (Article 214, Part 2).
On 24 December 2024, a court in Ekaterinburg sentenced Gilishev to 15 years’ imprisonment, of which the first four years are to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
Speaking at his trial, Gilishev stressed that his actions were an expression of disagreement with the authorities’ policies and the war. In his final speech in court, he said: ‘Dissent is not a crime.’
Why do we consider Andrei Gilishev a political prisoner?
The charge of participation in a terrorist organisation was unfounded and unlawful. The Free Russia Legion has been wrongly designated a terrorist organisation by the Russian authorities. In reality, it is a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces, participation in which should not be classified as terrorism.
The charge of vandalism was also unfounded. Gilishev’s graffiti did not offend public morality, and the attribution of ‘political hatred’ as a motive was arbitrary. The writing on the church fence was a form of expression reflecting Gilishev’s view that the Russian Orthodox Church promotes propaganda for Russia’s war against Ukraine. The material damage caused by his actions was minimal, and he had no intention of desecrating objects of religious faith. His actions should at most have resulted in a penalty under administrative law.
We believe Gilishev may have been the victim of a police sting operation. He is convinced the address to which he submitted his application to the Free Russia Legion was a fake, and that he corresponded with an undercover agent. Such operational provocations are expressly prohibited by law.
Gilishev was prosecuted and convicted solely for expressing disagreement with the war and the authorities’ policies. His punishment was politically motivated and grossly disproportionate to his actions.
A detailed description of Andrei Gilishev’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 Andrei Gilishev at the following address:
RU: 457670, Челябинская область, г. Верхнеуральск, ул. Северная, д. 1, ФКУ Т ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области, Гилишеву Андрею Николаевичу 1991 г. р.
EN: Andrei Nikolaevich Gilishev (born 1991), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Chelyabinsk Oblast, 1 Severnaya, Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, 457670, Russia.
You can also send an email using ZT (for payment with all bank cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
