Ivan Kveselevych is a political prisoner
A Ukrainian who lived in Kaliningrad has been sentenced to two and a half years in a penal colony for collusion with the Ukrainian Security Service
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ivan Kveselevych a political prisoner. For correspondence on the Internet, Kveselevych was convicted on a criminal charge of collusion with a foreign state. Kveselevych’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that Ivan Kveselevych be released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Ivan Kveselevych?
Ivan Kveselevych was born in Ukraine and is a Ukrainian citizen. However, from his early childhood, he lived in Kaliningrad. After studying in St. Petersburg, he began working as a lawyer.
A criminal case was opened against Kveselevych in the summer of 2024 for ‘collusion with a foreigner to assist in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation’ (Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the prosecution, from early February 2022 to August 2023, Kveselevych corresponded with an officer of the Ukrainian Security Service. Kveselevych was accused of ‘gathering information about partial mobilisation, the socio-political situation, and the economic and food security of Kaliningrad region.’
On 29 April 2025, Ivan Kveselevych was sentenced by a Kaliningrad court to serve two and a half years in a general regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Ivan Kveselevych a political prisoner?
The offence of ‘collusion’ was added to the Russian Criminal Code in July 2022 and has become one more instrument to be used by the authorities against ‘internal enemies.’ The provisions of this law do not comply with the principle of legal certainty. In essence, it criminalises any communication with foreigners and provides for punishment, not for specific actions, but merely for the alleged intention to ‘facilitate’ some undefined ‘activity.’ The law on ‘collusion’ must be rescinded and all related criminal cases closed.
All the information which Kveselevych was accused of collecting was publicly available in the media and online. If this had not been the case, Kveselevych would have been charged with espionage.
A detailed description of Kveselevych’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 donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
