Kirill Belousov is a political prisoner
Kirill Belousov is a political prisoner
A Saratov resident has been sentenced to five years in a strict-regime penal colony on a charge of attempting to join the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Kirill Belousov a political prisoner. Belousov has been convicted on a charge of attempted participation in an illegal armed group on the territory of a foreign state for purposes contrary to the interests of Russia for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion. Belousov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violate his right to a fair trial. We demand that Belousov’s conviction be quashed immediately and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Kirill Belousov?
On 6 July 2022, FSB officers detained Kirill Belousov, who comes from Balakov in Saratov Oblast, near the border with Ukraine in Bryansk Oblast. After serving a sentence of 10 days’ imprisonment for the administrative-law offence of disobeying a police officer, he was charged with attempted participation in an illegal armed group on the territory of a foreign state for purposes contrary to the interests of Russia (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 208, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, Kirill Belousov wanted to join the Free Russia Legion, which fights on the side of Ukraine.
On 17 January 2023, Bryansk Oblast Court sentenced Belousov to five years in a strict-regime penal colony with an additional one year’s subsequent probation.
Why do we consider Belousov a political prisoner?
We do not have access to the materials of Belousov’s prosecution and the ‘confessions’ he made are untrustworthy. We do not know whether he really intended to join the Free Russia Legion. At the same time, we believe that, even if this were true, there is no evidence of a crime in his actions.
The Free Russia Legion cannot be considered a ‘body not provided for by the laws of Ukraine’ as it is officially part of the Ukrainian armed forces. Belousov’s possible participation in the Legion would also not have contradicted Russia’s interests: Russia’s interests are contradicted by the aggression launched against Ukraine, not by participation in repelling this aggression.
The circumstances of Belousov’s initial detention are worth noting. Before the criminal case against him was opened, he was jailed for 10 days on what seemed to be a spurious administrative-law charge. Most likely, the investigative authorities used this jail term to prepare for Belousov’s criminal prosecution in the absence of real grounds, something that is common practice.
A detailed description of Kirill Belousov’s case and of our project 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.
