Ruslan Gubkin is a political prisoner
A resident of Arkhangelsk Oblast has been sentenced to three years in a penal colony for comments on Telegram
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ruslan Gubkin a political prisoner. Gubkin has been convicted of making public calls to engage in activities against the security of the state for anti-war comments on Telegram. Gubkin’s prosecution and conviction violate his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Ruslan Gubkin and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Ruslan Gubkin?
Ruslan Gubkin is a resident of the village of Ilyinsko-Podomskoe in Arkhangelsk Oblast. He openly expressed views opposed to the government and the war with Ukraine on social media.
In October 2023, Gubkin was detained near a military recruitment office. He was then jailed on two consecutive administrative-law charges for alleged hooliganism. Immediately after this, Gubkin was remanded in custody on a criminal charge of making public calls to engage in activities against the security of the state (Article 280.4, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). Grounds for the charge were comments he had posted on Telegram in which he allegedly called on fellow villagers to set fire to the military recruitment office.
Already after the initiation of the criminal case against him, Gubkin was fined twice for criticising the Russian authorities on the internet.
On 15 March 2024, Ruslan Gubkin was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
Why do we consider Ruslan Gubkin a political prisoner?
The criminal prosecution of Ruslan Gubkin was solely related to his anti-war stance.
The wording of the offence of ‘making calls to engage in activities against the security of the state’ is extremely broad and vague. This allows the law to be applied arbitrarily: almost any statement regarding state activities can lead to prosecution.
In our view, the greatest threat to the security of Russia comes from the actions of the Russian authorities, who started and continue the war against Ukraine. Calls to resist aggression can be considered beneficial to society.
The exact text for which Gubkin was incriminated is not known. Most likely, his post concerned a symbolic act of setting fire to the military recruitment office in protest against Russia’s war of aggression and mobilisation. However, had Gubkin explicitly called for arson, based on existing law enforcement practice, he would most likely have faced more serious charges.
Nevertheless, Gubkin’s statement, even if it did formally represent a danger to the public, was highly unlikely to have had any significant consequences. Gubkin had few followers on social media, his posts gained little attention, and there was no evidence to suggest a real threat from his words.
The court also ignored Gubkin’s personal circumstances, including his health. The sentence handed down was disproportionately harsh and appears intended to intimidate dissenters.
The political nature of the prosecution was also evident in the repressive practice by which Gubkin was subjected to a series of administrative-law jail terms before his criminal prosecution.
A detailed description of the case of Ruslan Gubkin 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 Gubkin at the following address:
RU: 165115, Архангельская область, Вельский район, дер. Горка Муравьёвская, ул. Спецгородок, д. 1а, ФКУ ИК-14 УФСИН России по Архангельской области, Губкину Руслану Фаридовичу, 1997 г. р.
EN: Ruslan Faridovich Gubkin (born 1997), Penal Colony No. 14, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Arkhangelsk Oblast, 1a Spetsgorodok Street, 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.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
