Ilya Ukrainsky is a political prisoner
A resident of Irkutsk has been sentenced to six years in a penal colony for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ilya Ukrainsky a political prisoner. Ukrainsky was convicted on a charge of ‘preparing to commit treason’ for attempting to go over to the side of the enemy, based on correspondence with Ukrainians and his attempt to leave Russia. Ukrainsky’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that all criminal charges against Ukrainsky be dropped and that his abduction and reports of his torture be investigated.
What were the charges against Ilya Ukrainsky?
In January 2023, Ilya Ukrainsky tried to leave Russia for Moldova, intending to travel to Ukraine. On 27 January, he was not allowed entry into Moldova and was deported to Armenia. From Armenia, Ukrainsky returned to Russia.
On 28 January, he was detained at Mineralnye Vody Airport by the FSB. He was twice jailed for 15-day terms on fabricated administrative-law charges before he was disappeared. Later, it became known that, for several months, until May 2023, Ilya Ukrainsky had been held without charges and tortured.
On 25 May 2023, a criminal case was initiated against him on a charge of preparing to commit treason (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 275, of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, Ukrainsky had attempted to travel to Ukraine to join the Free Russia Legion.
On 23 August 2024, a court sentenced him to six years in a strict regime penal colony and one year’s probation after his release.
Why do we consider Ilya Ukrainsky a political prisoner?
There is no compelling evidence that Ilya Ukrainsky actually tried to join the Free Russia Legion. The accusation is based on confessions he made under torture while he was forcibly disappeared and held in solitary confinement. Moreover, before being formally charged, he had no procedural status and no access to a lawyer.
The investigators found no evidence of the alleged correspondence they claimed Ukrainsky had had with representatives of the Ukrainian armed forces. Screenshots of instructions for joining the Free Russia Legion, allegedly found on his phone, contained no incriminating information and may have been fabricated.
Ukrainsky’s criminal prosecution on a charge of preparing to defect to the enemy is unlawful under international and, consequently, Russian law. According to international law, the sole prohibited form of foreign participation in an armed conflict is mercenary activity. In our view, even if Ukrainsky had indeed joined the Free Russia Legion, such an action would not fall under the definition of mercenary activity as provided for under the relevant convention. Therefore, there are no grounds to prosecute him for attempting to join.
A detailed description of Ilya Ukrainsky’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 Ilya Ukrainsky at the following address:
In Russian: 665809, Иркутская область, г. Ангарск, Первый промышленный массив, квартал 47, д. 6, ФКУ ИК-2 ГУФСИН России по Иркутской области, Украинскому Илье Викторовичу 2001 г. р.
In English: Ilya Viktorovich Ukrainsky (born 2001), Penal Colony No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Irkutsk Oblast, 6 Quarter 47, First Industrial District, Angarsk, Irkutsk Oblast, 665809, Russia.
You can also send emails via ZT (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.
