Sergei Zheleznyakov is a political prisoner
An IT specialist from Kaliningrad has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for allegedly participating in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, whose leader was received by Putin in the Kremlin
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Sergei Zheleznyakov a political prisoner. Zheleznyakov was convicted on criminal charges of ‘participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation,’ ‘making calls to engage in terrorism’ and ‘justification of terrorism’ on the basis of a single post on a Telegram channel he allegedly created. Zheleznyakov’s criminal prosecution violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the release of Sergei Zheleznyakov, that his case be reheard in a fair trial, and that his allegations of torture be investigated.
What were the charges against Sergei Zheleznyakov?
Sergei Zheleznyakov is an IT specialist from Kaliningrad who converted to Islam in 2021. On 31 May 2023, Zheleznyakov was detained on charges of joining the international terrorist organisation Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and creating a Telegram channel on which he promoted terrorism. The charges were based on Zheleznyakov’s correspondence with an alleged member of the organisation on two mobile phones, the testimony of a secret witness, and expert assessments.
Sergei Zheleznyakov maintains his innocence of the charges. He stated that the person with whom he corresponded had proposed creating a religious website, but he had refused to cooperate. Zheleznyakov also claimed the second mobile phone was planted on him by FSB officers, and that part of the correspondence was fabricated. He also insisted he was unaware of the terrorist status of the organisation to which his correspondent allegedly belonged.
Sergei Zheleznyakov was convicted on charges of ‘participation in a terrorist organisation’ (Article 205.5, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and ‘making calls to engage in terrorism’ (Article 205.2, Part 2, CC RF). On 11 April 2025 he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, with the first four years to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
In May 2025, Zheleznyakov’s lawyer, Maria Bontsler, was arrested on a charge of collusion with a foreign organisation. Our project has recognised Maria Bontsler as a political prisoner.
Why do we consider Sergei Zheleznyakov a political prisoner?
The case against Zheleznyakov is based on dubious evidence. He reported that he underwent torture and other forms of pressure at the hands of the security services, yet his claims were not investigated. The search of his home was conducted without a lawyer being present, thereby creating conditions for the fabrication of evidence.
The testimony given by a secret witness and dubious expert assessments played a key role in the case. At the same time, with regard to the phone Zheleznyakov allegedly used to run the Telegram channel, the court ignored contradictions in the billing data, the dates of the SIM card activation, and the times the phone was used. Even if Zheleznyakov had done what he was accused of, the sentence imposed on him was disproportionate to the danger of these actions (the creation of a Telegram channel and a single post containing no calls for violence).
It should also be noted that the correspondence did not directly concern Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, but another organisation that is allegedly its structural subdivision. It is unclear, however, how Zheleznyakov was supposed to have known this.
Despite the fact that Zheleznyakov was charged with participating in the terrorist organisation Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, in October 2025 the leader of that organisation and the current head of state of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visited Russia and met with President Putin.
A detailed description of Sergei Zheleznyakov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Sergei Zheleznyakov at the following address:
RU:
Российская Федерация, 236022, г. Калининград, ул. Ушакова, д. 2-4, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Калининградской области, Железняков Сергей Вячеславович, 1997 г. р.
EN:
Sergei Vyacheslavovich Zheleznyakov (born 1997), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Kaliningrad Oblast, 2-4 Ushakova Street, Kaliningrad, 236022, Russian Federation
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.
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