All assessments of the criminal prosecution of specific individuals, including the designation of detained persons as political prisoners, reflect the position of our Project. Such assessments are not based on the views and assessments of the individuals being prosecuted, their families, friends or lawyers, and do not imply their consent or approval. The information regarding the facts of specific criminal cases published on our Project’s website has been obtained from public sources and does not imply or require the consent of the individuals mentioned therein or their representatives.
Altan Ochirov and Bulat Shumekov, two opponents of the war against Ukraine accused of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army, are political prisoners
Boris Romanov is a victim of unlawful and politically motivated prosecution
24 Jun, 2022
Mikhail Afanasiev, a journalist from Khakassia, is a political prisoner
Mikhail Afanasiev was remanded in custody on charges of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army for a publication about OMON riot police officers who refused to take part in the ‘special operation’ in Ukraine
21 Jun, 2022
Alberto Giraldo, a Colombian citizen accused of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army, is a political prisoner
According to the investigators, Alberto Giraldo was engaged in mass mailing of messages about crimes of the Russian military in Ukraine
24 May, 2022
Bakhrom Khamroev is a political prisoner
He was remanded in custody on charges of justifying terrorism on account of several Facebook posts discussing religious topics
23 May, 2022
Aleksei Gorinov is a political prisoner
Members of Moscow’s Krasnoselsky district municipal council, Aleksei Gorinov and Elena Kotyonochkina spoke out against the war on Ukraine at a meeting of the council. They now face criminal charges
02 Nov, 2021
Said-Mukhamad Dzhumaev, involved in clashes with police at a protest rally in support of Navalny, is a political prisoner
Said-Mukhamad Dzhumaev was given an unprecedentedly harsh sentence of five years in a penal colony, although no police personnel were injured by his actions
29 Oct, 2021
The criminal case against Aleksei Navalny and his associates for organizing an ‘extremist group’ is politically motivated
We believe the designation of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and other structures run by Navalny as extremist to be unlawful. The organizations did not violate Russian law.
13 Sep, 2021
Brothers Ismail Isayev and Salekh Magamadov are political prisoners
Two young Chechens who criticized the authorities on the Internet were abducted and forced to publicly repent. After leaving Chechnya, they were detained in Nizhny Novgorod on charges of aiding and abetting militants
11 Jun, 2021
On the designation of civil society associations linked to Aleksei Navalny as extremist
Statement by Memorial Human Rights Centre
21 May, 2021
Aleksandr Shestun, former head of Serpukhov district in Moscow Region, is a political prisoner
Его приговорили к 15 годам строгого режима по обвинениям в крупном мошенничестве, отмывании денег, незаконной предпринимательской деятельности и получении взятки
28 Apr, 2021
Akhmed Pogorov, a protest leader in Ingushetia, is a political prisoner
Former Interior Minister of Ingushetia Akhmed Pogorov is accused of organising violence against law enforcement officers and of membership of an ‘extremist group.’
15 Feb, 2021
Ten Muslims from Orenburg, convicted in the case of the banned Tablighi Jamaat, are political prisoners
The 10 Muslims were sentenced to terms ranging from two years to six and a half years in a general regime penal colony on charges of extremism solely on account of their involvement in Tablighi Jamaat
07 Oct, 2020
Karina Tsurkan, a former senior manager at Inter RAO, is a political prisoner
Karina Tsurkan is charged with spying for Moldova, but her guilt has not been proved and the investigation has been conducted with gross violations of the law
23 Sep, 2020
Four Crimean Tatars charged with participation in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir are political prisoners, Memorial says
Ruslan Mesutov, Lenur Khalilov, Ruslan Nagayev and Eldar Kantimirov are being prosecuted under ‘terrorism’ articles of the Russian Criminal Code without having been charged with terrorism
17 Aug, 2020
Ivan Lyubshin is a political prisoner
We oppose a broad interpretation of the notion of ‘justification of terrorism’ and the criminalisation of careless comments on the Internet
30 Jun, 2020
Ten Muslims convicted of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir in St. Petersburg are political prisoners
All ten Muslims were found guilty under terrorist articles of the Russian Criminal Code, although there is no evidence they committed, or planned to commit, violent crimes
25 Jun, 2020
Aleksandr Gabyshev, a shaman from Yakutsk, is a political prisoner, Memorial says
Aleksandr Gabyshev, suspected of inciting extremism, has been forcibly hospitalised in a psychiatric hospital
19 Jun, 2020
Memorial recognizes two more Muslims convicted of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir as political prisoners
Khotamzhon Karimov and Altynbek Abdymanap uulu have been convicted under a terrorist article of the Russian Criminal Code in the absence of any evidence of terrorism
31 Jan, 2020
Eleven residents of Crimea prosecuted for involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir are political prisoners, Memorial says
On trial under terrorism articles of the Russian Criminal Code, they have not been charged with terrorism
11 Dec, 2019
Vladislav Sinitsa is a Political Prisoner
Sinitsa has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony for a comment on Twitter
09 Dec, 2019
The Antifascists from Penza and St. Petersburg Accused of Being Members of Banned Organisation Network Are Political Prisoners
The defendants have not been involved in terrorist activites; the criminal case against them has been fabricated and is based on testimony given under cruel torture
01 Jul, 2019
Five opposition leaders in Ingushetia are political prisoners, Memorial says
Barakhoev, Malsagov, Nalgiev, Uzhakhov and Chemurziev were not involved in ‘organising acts of violence.’
21 May, 2019
The FSB is making a large number of arrests in an attempt to close down the Crimean Tatars’ human rights movement
Twenty-four Crimean Tatar activists are political prisoners, Memorial says
21 Mar, 2019
Artpodgotovka supporters Oleg Dmitriev, Oleg Ivanov and Sergei Ozerov, convicted of preparing an act of terrorism in the centre of Moscow on 5 November 2017, are political prisoners
It is highly likely that the criminal case was completely fabricated and the defendants have been victims of a provocation by the law enforcement agencies
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