Yaroslav Shirshikov is a political prisoner
A public relations specialist from Yekaterinburg was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for an online post about the murder of pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yaroslav Shirshikov a political prisoner. Shirshikov has been convicted of public justification of terrorism for a post on his Telegram channel about the death of pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky. Shirshikov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violate his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Yaroslav Shirshikov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
Who is Yaroslav Shirshikov and what were the charges against him?
Yaroslav Shirshikov is a public relations specialist from Yekaterinburg. Previously he had already been prosecuted for statements he had made. For example, in 2020, Shirshikov was prosecuted for inciting riots for an online post calling for protests against the felling of trees in a public square in downtown Yekaterinburg. That year he was also convicted of defamation for a jocular post in which he called a local official a ‘Polish spy.’
On 2 April 2023, immediately after the bomb explosion in a St. Petersburg café that killed pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky, Shirshikov commented on his Telegram channel that he felt no regret over Tatarsky’s death and suggested the propagandist could have been killed ‘by others like him.’
This post gave rise to a criminal investigation against Shirshikov on charges of public justification of terrorism using the Internet (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). From 19 April to 14 June 2023, Shirshikov was remanded in custody. He was then released under travel restrictions.
On 27 February 2024, Yaroslav Shirshikov was sentenced to two years in a general-regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Shirshikov a political prisoner?
Shirshikov’s post does not endorse terrorism. The blogger clearly indicated in his post that he is against all bombs, wherever they may explode; he went on to state that, personally, he felt no regrets over Tatarsky’s death. Shirshikov explained this by saying that he fundamentally disagreed with Tatarsky’s views. The pro-Kremlin propagandist had publicly talked about plans to ‘kill and rob everyone.’
The offence of public justification of terrorism, of which Shirshikov was convicted, is increasingly being used to persecute dissidents. At the same time, prosecutions under this law are highly selective and disproportionate. For example, Tatarsky, despite the fact he had a huge audience, was never prosecuted for numerous statements calling for the killing of people on the basis of their nationality. Shirshikov expressed only his attitude to the deceased, yet for this he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
A detailed description of Yaroslav Shirshikov’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.
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