Sergei Veselov is a political prisoner
He has been prosecuted on charges of ‘discrediting’ the army, vandalism, insulting a judge, and incitement of terrorism for an anti-war protest and social media posts
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Sergei Veselov a political prisoner. He is being prosecuted on charges of inciting terrorism and vandalism. He has been convicted of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the Russian armed forces and insulting a judge. Veselov’s prosecutions violate his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial.
We demand the immediate release of Sergei Veselov, the termination of his criminal prosecution on charges of inciting terrorism and vandalism, and that his conviction for insulting a judge and repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army be quashed.
What are the charges against Sergei Veselov?
Sergei Veselov is a blogger and civil society activist from Shuya in the Ivanovo region in Western Russia.
On the night of 24 February 2022, after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Veselov wrote ‘No to war!’ on the local city government building. In March, a criminal investigation was launched against him on a charge of vandalism (Article 214, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code) and he was released under travel restrictions.
Nevertheless, Veselov continued to speak out against the war and already on 29 July 2022 he had been charged with the criminal offence of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army (Article 280.3, Part 1) His case now includes seven episodes of ‘discrediting’ the army for YouTube videos, the last of which he posted in December 2023.
On 21 December 2022, a criminal case was opened against Veselov for insulting a judge (Article 297, Part 2). The ground for the charge was a video criticising the judge who banned Veselov, as a pre-trial condition, from undertaking certain actions. On 28 August 2023, Veselov was sentenced on this charge to 300 hours of compulsory work.
On 17 January 2024, Veselov was additionally charged with incitement of terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2) for reposting on his Telegram channel, in September 2022, the Irpin Declaration issued by Russians fighting on the side of Ukraine. On 24 January 2024, Veselov was remanded in custody.
On 17 May, Veselov was convicted on the charges of repeated ‘discrediting’ of Russia’s army and sentenced to 2 years and 1 month of imprisonment in a low-security penal facility.
The vandalism and terrorism incitement cases against him are still pending.
Why do we consider Veselov a political prisoner?
The prosecution of Veselov for vandalism ‘motivated by political hatred’ is absurd. Writing ‘No to war!’ on the city government building is a form of criticism and does not present a danger to the public. The criminal charges against him should be dropped.
Veselov’s prosecution for repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army should also be discontinued as this charge is itself unlawful in nature. The law on ‘discrediting’ the army was adopted to suppress dissent after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. It serves to prohibit any criticism of the war, or of the Russian authorities, in violation of the right to freedom of expression and the principle of legal certainty.
Veselov’s conviction for insulting the judge on the basis of comments he made about the latter’s mental abilities should be quashed. Such statements pose no danger to the public and cannot be considered a criminal offence.
Finally, the charge of terrorism, one increasingly used to combat dissenters, should be dropped. Veselov’s reposting of the Irpin Declaration does not constitute a call to carry out acts of terrorism and, again, does not present a danger to the public.
A detailed description of the case of Sergei Veselov and our position are 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 Sergei Veselov at the following address:
In Russian: 153025, г. Иваново, ул. Болотная, д. 2, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Ивановской области, Веселову Сергею Владимировичу, 1970 г. р.
In English: Sergei Vladimirovich Veselov (born 1970), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Ivanovo region, 2 Bolotnaya Street, Ivanovo, 153025, Russia.
You can also send an electronic letter via Zonatelecom (Russian and other bank cards), PrisonMail (other bank cards), or OVD-Info (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.
