Turan Ustyugov is a political prisoner
A 19-year-old citizen of Kazakhstan has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for attempting to join the Russian Volunteer Corps
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Turan Ustyugov a political prisoner. Ustyugov was convicted on charges of ‘preparing to participate in a terrorist organisation and to undergo training in terrorism’ for an intention to join the Russian Volunteer Corps. Ustyugov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that the conviction of Turan Ustyugov be quashed and his allegations of torture be investigated.
What were the charges against Turan Ustyugov?
Turan Ustyugov, a resident of Almaty in Kazakhstan, was outraged by the Russian army’s invasion of Ukraine. In September 2024 he sent an application to join the Russian Volunteer Corps and later wrote to the Ukrainian Security Service, setting out his desire to cooperate with them. In response to his appeal, he received a proposal to carry out a task in Crimea.
At the end of September 2024, Turan left home and travelled via Kyrgyzstan and Moscow to Crimea, where he was detained by the FSB on 30 September. Two days later, he called his mother and managed to shout into the phone: ‘Mum, they are torturing and killing me! They held a gun to my temple, hung me upside down and electrocuted me.’
Ustyugov was charged with preparing to participate in a ‘terrorist organisation’ (Article 30, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in conjunction with Article 205.5, Part 2, CC RF) and preparing to undergo training in terrorism (Article 30, Part 1, CC RF in conjunction with Article 205.3 CC RF). In court, Ustyugov confirmed he wanted to fight for Ukraine, but denied that he wanted to undergo terrorist training. Ustyugov stated he had made his ‘confession’ under torture.
On 25 June 2025, Ustyugov was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Why do we consider Ustyugov a political prisoner?
The Russian Volunteer Corps, which Ustyugov wanted to join, was founded by Russian citizens and forms part of the Ukrainian armed forces. The court decision designating the unit as a ‘terrorist organisation’ lacked all transparency: its text has never been published. Such a designation contradicts both Russian law and international norms. Armed formations of the parties to a conflict cannot be classified as terrorist.
The charge of ‘preparing to undergo training in terrorism’ was based on correspondence in which Ustyugov expressed a willingness to undergo basic military training on joining the Russian Volunteer Corps. Such training of military personnel in the armies of states is not ‘training in terrorism’ but the legitimate training of soldiers.
The court ignored Ustyugov’s allegations of torture and based its verdict on testimony that Ustyugov alleged was obtained by this means. Ustyugov’s prosecution and conviction are part of a policy by the authorities to intimidate all those who oppose the war.
A detailed description of Turan Ustyugov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
