Yevgeny Kazantsev is a political prisoner
A Ukrainian prisoner of war with Russian citizenship has been sentenced to 11 years and 11 months of imprisonment
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yevgeny Kazantsev a political prisoner. Kazantsev has been convicted on charges of participation on the territory of a foreign state in an illegal armed formation for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation, participation in the activities of an extremist organisation, and illegal acquisition and carrying of firearms and ammunition. Kazantsev’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to fair trial, as well as the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War. We demand that the criminal prosecution of Yevgeny Kazantsev be terminated and that the norms of international law be respected in his case.
What were the charges against Yevgeny Kazantsev?
Yevgeny Kazantsev moved from Russia to Ukraine in 2015 to care for a close relative. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he took an active part in the territorial defence of Chernihiv, and in March he found himself in Russian captivity.
Kazantsev was charged with participating in the activities of the ‘extremist organisation Pravy Sektor’ (Article 282.2, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code) and its armed formation, ‘the 22nd Reserve Group of the Pravy Sektor Volunteer Ukrainian Corps’ between September 2015 and March 2022 ‘in the combat zone on the territory of the DNR and LNR’ (Article 208, Part 2). He was also accused of the illegal acquisition and carrying of firearms and ammunition (Article 222, Part 1).
After Kazantsev was captured, Russian propaganda media circulated a video in which he admitted his guilt and called on the Ukrainian armed forces and Ukrainian ‘nationalist movements’ to surrender their weapons. However, he soon retracted his confession, saying he made it under pressure from FSB officers. During his transfer to a pre-trial detention centre, where he was sent on 24 March 2022, Kazantsev suffered frostbite on both feet, which led to the amputation of several toes.
On 28 November 2023, Kazantsev was sentenced to 12 years in a strict-regime penal colony, with the first three years to be served in a cell-type prison. On appeal, the sentence was reduced by one month.
Why do we consider Yevgeny Kazantsev a political prisoner?
We do not know whether Kazantsev was a member of Pravy Sektor and its armed wing. Kazantsev himself denies this. Regardless, the charge against him is unlawful.
The 22nd Reserve Group of the Pravy Sektor Volunteer Ukrainian Corps is not an illegal armed formation, as it operates with the consent of the state and in cooperation with Ukrainian armed forces.
The charge of ‘acquisition and carrying of weapons’ is absurd, since Kazantsev was a participant in an armed conflict between states. He performed tasks assigned to him by the Ukrainian command and possessed weapons legally.
The court’s decision to designate Pravy Sektor as an extremist organisation is unfounded. Moreover, the activities of Pravy Sektor are banned in Russia, while Kazantsev is charged with participation in Pravy Sektor on the territory of Ukraine.
Kazantsev’s criminal prosecution and conviction violate the provisions of the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war, which prohibit the prosecution of military service personnel for participation in hostilities during an armed conflict.
A detailed description of Yevgeny Kazantsev’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 Kazantsev at the following address:
In Russian: 662606, Красноярский край, г. Минусинск, ул. М. Горького, д. 114, ФКУ Т ГУФСИН по Красноярскому краю, Казанцеву Евгению Викторовичу 1987 г. р.
In English: Yevgeny Viktorovich Kazantsev (born 1987), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Krasnoyarsk Krai, 114 Maksima Gorkogo Street, Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, 662606, Russia.
You can also send an email via F-Pismo and ZT services (for payment with Russian bank cards), PrisonMail (for payment with foreign 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 recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
