Nikita Prosvirnin is a political prisoner

A former member of the Young Guard of the United Russia party faces up to eight years in a penal colony on a charge of ‘collusion’ with foreigners

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international criteria, considers Nikita Prosvirnin a political prisoner. Prosvirnin is being prosecuted on a criminal charge of collusion with a foreign state or international or foreign organisation. Prosvirnin’s prosecution violates his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Nikita Prosvirnin and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

What are the charges against Nikita Prosvirnin?

Nikita Prosvirnin is a blogger and businessman. In the first half of the 2010s, he was a member of the pro-government Young Guard of the United Russia party. Later, he studied in the Czech Republic and then worked in game development, was involved in trading crypto and NFTs, and taught Czech.

On 11 February 2025, Prosvirnin was detained in Moscow and remanded in custody on charges of ‘collusion’ with foreigners (Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). The case was classified, so the grounds for the charge are not known. If convicted, he faces up to eight years’ imprisonment.

Why do we consider Nikita Prosvirnin a political prisoner?

The article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on collusion became law in July 2022 and is one more instrument used by the regime to combat its opponents. The provisions of this article, which criminalises any communication whatsoever between Russian citizens and foreigners, do not comply with the principle of legal certainty. The article does not criminalise specific actions, but merely an intention to ‘facilitate’ some undefined ‘activity.’ The article on ‘collusion’ must be rescinded and all related criminal cases closed.

Although we do not know exactly why Prosvirnin is being prosecuted, if his actions posed a real threat to the state or society, he would have been charged with a different offence. Prosecution for ‘collusion’ with foreigners indicates that his actions posed no real threat whatsoever.

Prosvirnin’s prosecution has been classified. In many similar cases, this is done to conceal the weakness of the prosecution’s case and to prevent public scrutiny of the proceedings.

A detailed description of Nikita Prosvirnin’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?

If you have information about the remand prison in which Nikita Prosvirnin is being held, please let us know via our Telegram bot or by email: [email protected]

You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.