Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen are political prisoners
Two 20-year-old residents of Nizhnevartovsk were sentenced to terms of 12 and 13 years in a strict regime penal colony for arson of a military recruitment office
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen political prisoners. The two men were convicted on a charge of terrorism for setting fire to a military recruitment office in Nizhnevartovsk. Their prosecution and conviction violated their right to a fair trial. We demand that their conviction for terrorism be quashed, and their case be subject to a fair retrial.
What were the charges against Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen?
On the night of 3 May 2022, Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen threw several bottles of flammable liquid at a military recruitment office in Nizhnevartovsk. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the fire affected an area of one square metre, and no one was injured.
Borisenko and Gavrilishen were detained on 5 May. They were initially prosecuted on charges of hooliganism and damage to property, but the case was later reclassified as terrorism (Article 205, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, Gavrilishen allegedly received a proposal via a messaging app from a representative of the Ukrainian security services to set fire to the recruitment office for payment. He then allegedly contacted Borisenko and promised to share the payment with him.
Borisenko and Gavrilishen admitted setting the recruitment office on fire but denied that their actions constituted terrorism.
On 31 January 2023, a military court in Ekaterinburg sentenced Borisenko to 12 years’ imprisonment, with the first three years to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony. On 3 July 2023, Gavrilishen was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment, with the first five years to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen political prisoners?
In this case, the arson attack on a military recruitment office cannot be classified as terrorism. Under the law, terrorism is defined as an act that intimidates the population, endangers lives, and is intended to destabilise the functioning of government institutions. Borisenko and Gavrilishen carried out the arson at night. Their actions caused no serious damage, no one was harmed, and by their own account, their motive was financial.
The arson attack could have been classified as destruction or damage to property, but not as terrorism. We believe the punishment handed down to Borisenko and Gavrilishen is clearly disproportionate to the danger posed by their actions.
A detailed description of the case of Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen 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 of, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Vladislav Borisenko and Vasily Gavrilishen at the following addresses:
RU:
457670, Челябинская область, г. Верхнеуральск, ул. Северная, д. 1, ФКУ Т ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области, Борисенко Владиславу Сергеевичу 2002 г. р.
620019, Екатеринбург, ул. Малышева, 2б, ФКУ ИК-2 ГУФСИН по Свердловской области, Гаврилишену Василию Васильевичу 2001 г. р.
EN:
Vladislav Sergeevich Borisenko (born 2002), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Chelyabinsk Oblast, 1 Severnaya Street, Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, 457670, Russia.
Vasily Vasilyevich Gavrilishen (born 2001), Penal Colony No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Sverdlovsk Oblast, 2b Malysheva Street, Yekaterinburg, 620019, Russia.
You can also send an email using the ZT service (for payment with Russian 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.
