Andrei Solovyov is a political prisoner
A resident of Chita has been sentenced to two years in a strict regime penal colony for repeatedly ‘discrediting’ the Russian army in posts on VK
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Andrei Solovyov a political prisoner. Solovyov was convicted on a criminal charge of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the Russian armed forces online for posts on social media. Solovyov’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Andrei Solovyov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Andrei Solovyov?
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Andrei Solovyov from Chita posted statements and comments on the VK social media site criticising the actions of Russian forces. On 12 September 2022, he was fined 15,000 roubles for the administrative-law offence of ‘discrediting’ the Russian army.
In 2024, Solovyov was charged under criminal law with repeatedly ‘discrediting’ the army (Article 280.3, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). The grounds for the charge were nine posts and comments published on his VK page and in Chita city online groups. The court claimed these posts ‘formed in society a negative, hostile, and scornful attitude towards the armed forces of the Russian Federation involved in the special military operation, alleged the involvement of Russian soldiers in killings and looting, and misrepresented the goals of the special military operation.’
On 10 October 2024, Solovyov was sentenced to two years in a strict regime penal colony. In 2021, he had been given a suspended sentence for a drug-related offence (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 228, Part 1). The court added 18 months to the sentence for ‘discrediting’ the army to the suspended sentence of the earlier drug case, despite the fact that the probationary term of the latter had already expired.
Why do we consider Andrei Solovyov a political prisoner?
The offence of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army was introduced into law after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine to suppress dissent. In effect, it bans all criticism of the war or of the Russian authorities and violates both the right to freedom of expression and the principle of legal certainty. Moreover, being punished for repeated ‘discrediting’ amounts to being held legally liable twice for one and the same act, which also contradicts a fundamental principle of law. This law must be rescinded, and all related criminal cases closed.
Andrei Solovyov condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. We believe such a position serves the public interest and should not be subject to administrative or criminal prosecution.
A detailed description of Andrei Solovyov’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 of, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Andrei Solovyov at the following address:
In Russian: 672000, Забайкальский край, г. Чита, ул. Александра Липова, д. 5, ФКУ ИК-5 УФСИН России по Забайкальскому краю, Соловьёву Андрею Андреевичу, 1995 г. р.
In English: Andrei Andreevich Solovyov (born 1995), Penal Colony No. 5, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Zabaikalsky Krai, 5 Aleksandra Lipova Street, Chita, Zabaikalsky Krai, 673402
You can also send emails via the ZT service (for payment with Russian 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.
