Ruslan Bayazitov is a political prisoner
An entrepreneur has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony for arguing with supporters of the war in an online voice chat
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ruslan Bayazitov a political prisoner. Bayazitov was convicted on a charge of ‘inciting hatred or enmity on the Internet’ for taking part in disputes in an online voice chat with supporters of the war against Ukraine. Bayazitov’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Ruslan Bayazitov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Ruslan Bayazitov?
Ruslan Bayazitov is an entrepreneur from Kazan. On the night of 5 to 6 July 2023, he argued heatedly in a voice chat on the Telegram channel Moscow Calling with supporters of the war against Ukraine. Among other things, he repeatedly said that ‘Russkies’ who support the murder of others should also be killed.
One of Bayazitov’s interlocutors recorded the conversation on her phone. The recording spread across the internet after being posted by the notorious extremist blogger Vladislav Pozdnyakov. Pro-government public figure and head of the semi-official Safe Internet League, Ekaterina Mizulina, demanded that law enforcement agencies respond to the recording. On 9 August 2023, Bayazitov was fined under administrative law for discrediting the army. The next day, he was jailed for 14 days for ‘displaying the symbols of an extremist organisation’ (logos of Aleksei Navalny’s banned Anti-Corruption Foundation were found on his page).
On 11 August 2023, a criminal case was opened against Bayazitov for statements made in the chat room on a charge of ‘inciting hatred or enmity towards “Russians” as a group using the Internet, with the threat of violence’ (Article 282, Part 2). On 25 August, after leaving the detention centre, he was again detained and this time remanded in custody.
On 17 February 2025, Ruslan Bayazitov was sentenced to five years in a general regime penal colony. Bayazitov had refused either to have a defence lawyer or to make a final statement in court, calling the participants in his trial ‘clowns.’
Why do we consider Ruslan Bayazitov a political prisoner?
We do not approve of the form of debate and rhetorical techniques that Ruslan Bayazitov chose to use in an online discussion. At the same time, we believe the reason for his criminal prosecution was his opposition to the war, which is beneficial to society. Even if his words did present some danger to the public, imprisonment was a disproportionate punishment.
Bayazitov did not incite violence or hatred. He tried to make his interlocutors think, to put themselves in the shoes of the inhabitants of the country against which Russia launched the war. The rhetoric of Russian pro-war propagandists is often much harsher and more misanthropic, but none, to the best of our knowledge, has ever been criminally prosecuted.
We consider that Ruslan Bayazitov’s criminal prosecution was a result of denunciations and retribution for his anti-war stance. The case file contains a video recording in which the entrepreneur says: ‘I want Putin to be hanged, I want Russia to lose the war.’ The aim of the prosecution was to intimidate all those who oppose Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A detailed description of Eduard Asanov’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 Ruslan Bayazitov at the following address:
RU: 423450, Республика Татарстан, г. Альметьевск, ул. Базовая, д. 26, ФКУ ИК-8 УФСИН России по Республике Татарстан, Баязитову Руслану Марсовичу 1970 г. р.
EN: Ruslan Marsovich Bayazitov (born 1970), Penal Colony No. 8, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan, 26 Bazovaya Street, Almetyevsk, Republic of Tatarstan, 423450, Russia
You can also send an email using ZT (for payment with all bank cards) 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 on our website.
