Konstantin Ledkov is a political prisoner
A librarian from the Russian Arctic has been sentenced to five and a half years in a penal colony for his anti-war stance
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Konstantin Ledkov a political prisoner. For anti-war posts and for allegedly pronouncing the phrase, ‘Glory to Ukraine!’, Ledkov was convicted on charges of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army, making public calls to engage in activity directed against the security of the Russian Federation, and repeated propaganda of Nazi symbolism on the Internet. Ledkov’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand his immediate release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Konstantin Ledkov?
Konstantin Ledkov, a librarian in the village of Krasnoe, in the Zapolyarny district of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, was detained at work on 26 June 2024. Searches were conducted and his laptop seized. On 28 June, he was remanded in custody on a charge of repeated propaganda of Nazi symbols (Article 282.4, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code), allegedly for shouting ‘Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes!’ in a local bar. The investigative authorities deemed this a ‘slogan of a Nazi organisation.’ Earlier, in January 2024, Ledkov had been fined under administrative law for posting on VK a screenshot from Yandex Images showing German Nazis alongside the singer Shaman.
Ledkov was also charged with repeated ‘discrediting’ of the Russian armed forces (Article 280.3, Part 1) for reposting on VK a video entitled ‘How Russia reincarnated Nazism.’ In 2022, Ledkov had already been convicted under administrative law of ‘discrediting’ the army for ‘No war’ graffiti
In addition, Ledkov was charged with ‘making public calls to engage in activity directed against the security of the Russian Federation’ (Article 280.4, Part 2 [c]) for reposting a video interview with a Russian military pilot who had defected with his helicopter to Ukraine.
Ledkov maintained his innocence. On 29 May 2025, he was sentenced to five years and six months in a general regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Ledkov a political prisoner?
The offence of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the armed forces was introduced into Russia law as a means to suppress dissent following the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The law effectively bans any criticism of the war or of the Russian authorities, in violation of the right to freedom of expression. This article of the Criminal Code also contradicts fundamental legal principles, in particular that of legal certainty. It must be rescinded, all related criminal convictions quashed, and ongoing charges dropped.
Ledkov denies having shouted ‘Glory to Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes!’ in a bar. In any case, this phrase is not a Nazi slogan but an official salutation in the Ukrainian army, National Guard, and police force. Publishing a photo of Nazis next to an image of Shaman is not Nazi propaganda, but criticism of the political regime established in Russia and of those artists who support it.
Reposting an interview with a pilot who defected to Ukraine is not a threat to Russia’s security; the real threat lies in the aggressive war launched by the Russian authorities.
We believe Konstantin Ledkov was convicted for criticism of the war. A criminal case has also been opened against his father, Valery Ledkov, a scholar of the Ob-Ugric peoples, who faces up to eight years’ imprisonment on a charge of ‘financing extremism’ (Article 282.3, Part 1) for donations to the late Aleksei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.
A detailed description of Konstantin Ledkov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the project, ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial,’ agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Konstantin Ledkov at the following address:
RU: 163000, Архангельск, ул. Попова, д. 22, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Архангельской области, Ледкову Константину Валерьевичу 1992 г. р.
EN: Konstantin Valerievich Ledkov (born 1992), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Arkhangelsk Oblast, 22 Popova Street, Arkhangelsk, 163000, Russia.
You can also send an email using F-Pismo (for payment with Russian bank cards), PrisonMail (for payment with other bank cards), ZT (for payment with all 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.
