Leonid Klepov is a political prisoner
A resident of Tula has been sentenced to two years in a penal colony for two online comments about the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Leonid Klepov a political prisoner. Klepov was convicted on a charge of publicly justifying terrorism for online comments about the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion. Klepov’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand that Leonid Klepov be immediately released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Leonid Klepov?
On 23 April 2024 Leonid Klepov was detained and remanded in custody on a charge of justifying terrorism online (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). The prosecution was based on two online comments in support of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion, which Klepov posted in June 2023 on the Telegram channel Rassvet-chat. The comments stated that the soldiers in these units ‘are taking real action, shedding blood for liberation from the Putin regime.’
According to the prosecution, Klepov ‘took a negative view of the policy of the Russian Federation in relation to the conduct of the special military operation on the territory of Ukraine.’ Moreover, Klepov considered the activities of these two units ‘worthy of approval’ and in this way ‘justified terrorism.’
On 1 October 2024, a military court sentenced Klepov to two years in a general regime penal colony, with a ban on administering websites and channels for two years after his release.
Why do we consider Klepov a political prisoner?
The prosecution and conviction of Leonid Klepov were based on unlawful and unfounded rulings by Russian courts that declared the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps terrorist organisations. Both these units are officially part of the Ukrainian armed forces and are legitimately involved in the armed conflict on the side of Ukraine. According to international law, the actions of combatants during armed conflict cannot be classified as terrorism. Consequently, approval of the activities of these units constitutes support for Ukraine, which is defending itself from Russian aggression, and not justification of terrorism.
The law on justification of terrorism is frequently used by the Russian authorities to prosecute dissenters, above all, opponents of the war against Ukraine. Klepov’s comments pose no danger to society. They provide no grounds for criminal prosecution, still less imprisonment.
A detailed description of Leonid Klepov’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 Leonid Klepov at the following address:
RU: 165115, Архангельская область, Вельский район, д. Горка-Муравьёвская, Спецгородок д. 1 «А», ФКУ ИК-14 УФСИН России по Архангельской области, Клепову Леониду Сергеевичу 1995 г.р.
EN: Leonid Sergeevich Klepov (born 1995), Penal Colony No. 14, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Arkhangelsk Oblast, 1A Spetsgorodok, Gorka-Muravyovskaya village, Velsky district, Arkhangelsk Oblast, 165115, 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.
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