Solim Kamina is a political prisoner
A Moscow resident faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for anti-war posts on the VK social media platform
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Solim Kamina a political prisoner. Kamina is being prosecuted on a charge of spreading information known to be false about the Russian army for a post and comments on VK. Kamina’s prosecution violates his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the release of Solim Kamina and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What are the charges against Solim Kamina?
According to the investigative authorities, Solim Kamina ran a VK page where he mainly reposted articles from Ukrainian and Russian opposition media about Russia’s war against Ukraine. The General Prosecutor’s Office blocked his page in April 2022.
On 7 October 2024, criminal charges were brought against Kamina for spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army, motivated by political hatred (Article 207.3, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). On the same day, security forces searched Kamina’s apartment. During the search, according to media reports, officers used a taser against him.
The basis for Kamina’s prosecution is a post from 28 April 2023 discussing a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Uman, along with related comments. A forensic examination by experts appointed by the investigative authorities determined that the post and comments contained ‘a set of linguistic and psychological signs meant to convince the reader of the negative character’ of the Russian army’s actions. During interrogation, Kamina admitted his guilt and authorship of the VK page.
On 8 October, Kamina was remanded in custody. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Why do we consider Kamina a political prisoner?
The charge of spreading information known to be false about the Russian army, for which Kamina is being prosecuted, was introduced into the Russian Criminal Code immediately after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. This law effectively bans any criticism of the Russian authorities or military, in violation of the civil right to freedom of expression. Since this law contradicts the Constitution of Russia, all related charges are unlawful.
To our knowledge, Kamina has not been charged with spreading false information in his post about the missile strike on the residential building or in related comments. Instead, the investigative authorities have used terms such as ‘undermining the authority’ of the Russian army and ‘discrediting’ the same. Therefore, the charge against Kamina of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army is unfounded, even by the standards of the unlawful norms of contemporary Russian legislation.
In our view, making anti-war statements and raising awareness of war crimes cannot be regarded as criminal acts. These actions are beneficial to society, and therefore Kamina’s statements should not be grounds for his criminal prosecution.
A more detailed description of the case of Solim Kamina and the position of the human rights project is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the project, ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial,’ agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Solim Kamina at the following address:
In Russian:
127055, г. Москва, ул. Новослободская, д. 45, ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по г. Москве, Камина Солиму Абаловичу 1989 г. р.
In English:
Solim Abalovich Kamina (born 1989), Remand Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the city of Moscow, 45 Novoslobodskaya Street, 127055, Moscow, Russia.
You can also send an e-mail via F-Pismo and ZT (for payments with Russian cards), PrisonMail (for payments with other cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
