Yevgeny Bondarenko is a political prisoner
A paintball player from Tula has been sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime penal colony for allegedly wanting to join the Azov Regiment and inducing his friend to do the same
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yevgeny Bondarenko a political prisoner. Bondarenko was convicted on charges of attempting to commit treason, participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation and involving another person in these activities, for allegedly wanting to join the Ukrainian Azov Regiment. Bondarenko’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that Yevgeny Bondarenko be immediately released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Yevgeny Bondarenko?
Yevgeny Bondarenko is a native of Ukraine with Russian citizenship. A regular airsoft player for more than five years, on 15 March 2023 he was detained, and on 17 March he was remanded in custody. Bondarenko and his acquaintance Nikita Tarasov were both charged with undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities (Article 205.3 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the prosecution, they bought uniforms and equipment not for airsoft, but to prepare for joining the Azov Regiment.
The case against Tarasov was subsequently dealt with in a separate proceeding, apparently after Tarasov testified against Bondarenko. Bondarenko then faced fresh charges of attempting to commit treason by defecting to the enemy (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 275), attempting to participate in a terrorist organisation (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 205.5, Part 2) and inducing Tarasov to participate in a terrorist organisation (Article 205.1, Part 1.1). According to the investigative authorities, Bondarenko travelled to Georgia in January 2023 but was unable to get to Ukraine from there and returned to Russia. Bondarenko maintained his innocence of the charges.
On 27 March 2024, Bondarenko was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, of which the first three years are to be served in a cell-type prison and the rest in a strict regime penal colony. He was also fined 500,000 roubles.
Why do we consider Yevgeny Bondarenko a political prisoner?
Even if Yevgeny Bondarenko did try to join the Azov Regiment, such actions do not constitute a crime.
The court decision to designate this Ukrainian military unit as a terrorist organisation was unlawful. Azov is part of the Ukrainian National Guard and carries out combat missions under the country’s military command. The provisions of anti-terrorism legislation are not applicable to the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Since the Azov Regiment is not a terrorist organisation, Bondarenko cannot be accused of persuading Tarasov to participate in a terrorist organisation. At the same time, we believe Tarasov most likely testified against Bondarenko to mitigate his own involvement.
Bondarenko’s prosecution on a charge of treason for intending to ‘go over to the enemy’s side’ was unlawful. From the viewpoint of international law, the Russian Federation’s military actions against Ukraine are illegal and criminal, while Ukraine’s actions in defending itself against aggression are legal and justified. Participation in the defence of Ukraine against aggression is therefore lawful.
From the point of view of international law, the only prohibited form of foreign participation in hostilities is mercenary activity, which does not apply to Bondarenko’s actions. In particular, the verdict stressed that Bondarenko’s motive was a principled disagreement with the ‘Special Military Operation.’ A mercenary is guided by material interests.
Moreover, in defiance of logic, Bondarenko was charged with both attempting to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation and with attempting treason. If his actions were considered to be ‘going over to the enemy,’ then the Azov Regiment was implicitly recognised as an official Ukrainian unit, not a terrorist organisation.
A detailed description of Yevgeny Bondarenko’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 Yevgeny Bondarenko at the following address:
RU: 600020, г. Владимир, ул. Большая Нижегородская, д. 67, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Владимирской области, Бондаренко Евгению Вячеславовичу 1988 г. р.
EN: Bondarenko Yevgeny Vyacheslavovich (born 1988), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Vladimir Oblast, 67 Bolshaya Nizhegorodskaya Street, Vladimir, 600020, Russia
You can also send an email using ZT (for payment with all bank cards) 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.
