Pavel Syutkin is a political prisoner
An historian of Russian cuisine has been remanded in custody for anti-war posts on Telegram
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Pavel Syutkin a political prisoner. Syutkin is being prosecuted on a charge of ‘intentional dissemination of information known to be false about the Russian army on grounds of political hatred’ for anti-war posts on Telegram. Pavel Syutkin’s criminal prosecution violates his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand that Pavel Syutkin be released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
Who is Pavel Syutkin and what are the charges against him?
Pavel Syutkin, who lives in Moscow, has a PhD in history and is an historian, blogger and writer who, together with his wife, has co-authored books on the history of Russian cuisine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, Syutkin has published anti-war posts on his Telegram channel Russian Cuisine: History, in which he reflects on the essence of Putinism and what has happened to Russians. In June 2025, security forces searched Syutkin’s home and confiscated his computer equipment. Nevertheless, the couple decided not to leave Russia.
On 8 October 2025, security forces came to the Syutkins’ home again and took the writer away for questioning. Syutkin then recorded, from within the offices of the Investigative Committee, a short video message in which he said, among other things: ‘You need to understand that an honest writer, journalist, or historian in Russia must always be prepared for prison. Well, today that lot has fallen to me. But don’t despair: there will come a day when this darkness over Russia will disappear. Until we meet again, friends.’
Pavel Syutkin was charged with disseminating ‘fake news’ about the military on grounds of political enmity (Article 207.3, Part 2 [e], of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for allegedly intentionally spreading information known to be false about the actions of the armed forces of the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine. The publication to which the charge referred was posted in early April 2022 and mentioned the crimes of Russian troops in Bucha.
On 9 October 2025, 60-year-old Pavel Syutkin was remanded in custody. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Why do we consider Pavel Syutkin a political prisoner?
The article on the dissemination of information known to be false about the Russian army, under which Pavel Syutkin is being prosecuted, was adopted into law immediately after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The article effectively prohibits any criticism of the Russian authorities or the military, in violation of the right to freedom of expression. Moreover, since the article contradicts the Russian Constitution, any prosecutions brought under it are unlawful. This article should be repealed, all related convictions quashed, and ongoing prosecutions dropped.
We believe that criticism of the war of aggression is beneficial to Russian society and cannot be grounds for criminal prosecution, still less imprisonment. Information about Russian war crimes in Bucha is not ‘fake news,’ but facts established by authoritative international organisations.
The prosecution of Pavel Syutkin is retribution for his anti-war stance and is intended to intimidate opponents of Russia’s war against Ukraine within Russia and stop them publicising their views.
A detailed description of Pavel Syutkin’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Pavel Syutkin at the following address:
RU:
127055, г. Москва, ул. Новослободская, д. 45, ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по г. Москве, Сюткин Павел Павлович, 1965 г. р.
EN:
Pavel Pavlovich Syutkin (born 1965), Remand Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the city of Moscow, 45 Novoslobodskaya Street, Moscow, 127055, Russian
You can also send emails via F-Pismo (for payment with Russian bank cards), ZT (for payment with all bank cards), 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.
