Maksim Kharitonov is a political prisoner
A student from Kurgan Oblast has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony for corresponding with a ‘Ukrainian organisation’
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international criteria, considers Maksim Kharitonov a political prisoner. Kharitonov was convicted on a charge of collusion with a foreign organisation for agreeing to collect non-classified information and disseminate pro-Ukrainian propaganda on behalf of an unnamed organisation. Karitonov’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Maksim Kharitonov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Maksim Kharitonov?
Maksim Kharitonov, a student from the town of Kurtamash in Kurgan Oblast, was detained in October 2023. He was accused of cooperating with a Ukrainian organisation ‘whose activities are prohibited on the territory of Russia’ (Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Allegedly, in March 2023, Kharitonov established contact with a representative of the organisation who sent him ‘instructions on how to carry out sabotage and subversive activities on Russian territory: the distribution of pro-Ukrainian propaganda, and gathering and transmitting information on the location of units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, the National Guard, border troops, military units and military enlistment offices.’
On 16 November 2024, Maksim Kharitonov was sentenced to five years in a general regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Maksin Kharitonov a political prisoner?
The offence of ‘collusion’ was added to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in July 2022 and has become yet another instrument used by the regime against its opponents. The provisions of this law do not comply with the principle of legal certainty since it effectively criminalises any communication between Russian citizens and foreigners. The article on ‘collusion’ must be rescinded, and all related criminal cases closed.
Apparently, Maksim Kharitonov did not commit any of the actions described in the orders and instructions sent to him. He is being prosecuted for the mere fact of the correspondence. Indeed, if it had been a matter of distributing prohibited materials or transmitting secret information, Kharitonov would have faced more serious criminal charges. At the same time, we do not rule out the possibility of an FSB sting operation in this case.
Kharitonov’s trial took place in camera, which violates his right to a fair trial. In such cases, we believe that closing the trial to the public is intended to conceal the weakness of the evidence and the unfounded nature of the charges.
A detailed description of Maksim Kharitonov’s case and of our position 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?
If you have information about the remand prison or penal colony in which Maksim Kharitonov is being held, please let us know via our Telegram bot or by email: [email protected]
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