Vitaly Zhuravlyov is a political prisoner
A resident of Astrakhan Oblast, was sentenced to two years in a penal colony for anti-war memes and comments
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project,’ in accordance with international standards, considers Vitaly Zhuravlyov a political prisoner. Zhuravlyov was convicted of publicly ‘discrediting’ the Russian armed forces online for posts on social media. Zhuravlyov’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the release of Zhuravlyov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Vitaly Zhuravlyov?
On 21 December 2023, Vitaly Zhuravlyov from Akhtubinsk was fined 30,000 roubles on an administrative-law charge of ‘discrediting’ the Russian army. His offence was to have posted a meme on the VK social media site featuring Vladimir Putin with the caption, ‘Z for idiots. Without you I wouldn’t exist’[Za debilov. Bez vas menya by ne bylo]. The court ruled that the meme created a ‘negative and false impression among an indefinite number of people about the true goals and objectives of the use of the Russian armed forces in the special military operation in Ukraine.’
In June 2024, a criminal case was opened against Zhuravlyov on a charge of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army (Article 280.3, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). The case was based on three comments – described as ‘graphic images with text’ – which he posted in the ‘Delovoi Akhtubinsk’ community under a post by an acquaintance, the head of the pro-war volunteer group ‘Akhtubinsk Residents for the Special Military Operation’. Zhuravlyov was placed under travel restrictions pending trial.
On 17 December 2024, a court in Akhtubinsk sentenced Zhuravlyov to two years in a general regime penal colony. He was taken into custody in the courtroom. The mobile phone from which he had allegedly posted the content was confiscated in favour of the state.
Why do we consider Vitaly Zhuravlyov a political prisoner?
The article of the Criminal Code criminalising repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army was adopted into law after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine as a tool to suppress dissent. The article, which effectively bans any criticism of the war or of the Russian authorities, violates the right to freedom of expression and contradicts the principle of legal certainty. Moreover, punishment for ‘repeated discrediting’ amounts to being convicted twice for the same act, which also breaches a fundamental principle of law. This article should be rescinded and all related criminal cases closed.
The image for which Zhuravlyov was held liable under administrative law was a form of political satire. Memes like this, especially those featuring President Putin, clearly pose no threat to the public. Their publication is an exercise of the right to freedom of expression and must not be subject to prosecution under administrative or criminal law.
We do not know the exact contents of the comments Zhuravlyov left under the post by the pro-war volunteer, but it is clear that such criticism poses no danger to the public and cannot serve as grounds for criminal prosecution. The very fact that a criminal case was opened on an unlawful charge of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army indicates that Zhuravlyov was unlawfully prosecuted for criticism of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A detailed description of the case of Vitaly Zhuravlyov and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of individuals as political prisoners does not imply that the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with or approves of their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write a to Vitaly Zhuravlyov at the following address:
RU: 414000, г. Астрахань, ул. Бурова/Буровский переулок, д. 2/2, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Астраханской области, Журавлёву Виталию Владимировичу 1981 г. р.
EN: Vitaly Vladimirovich Zhuravlyov (born 1981), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Astrakhan Oblast, 2/2 Burova/Burovsky Lane, Astrakhan, 414000, Russia.
You can also send an email using the F-Pismo and ZT services (for payment with Russian bank cards) or PrisonMail (for payment with other bank cards).
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.
