Vadim Selin is a political prisoner
A resident of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for correspondence with the Free Russia Legion and comments on Telegram
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Vadim Selin a political prisoner. Selin was convicted on charges of participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, justifying terrorism, and spreading false information about the army for correspondence on Telegram and anti-war comments. Selin’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand that Selin be released, all charges against him dropped, and the alleged use of violence against him investigated.
What were the charges against Vadim Selin?
Vadim Selin lived in Balakhna in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and worked as a waiter and loader.
Law enforcement officers detained Selin on 4 July 2024 on suspicion of participating in a terrorist organisation (Article 205.5, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and searched his home the same day. Selin’s phones and bank cards were confiscated, and he was made to open his Telegram account. The investigative authorities claimed Selin had corresponded with the Free Russia Legion on Telegram, filled out a questionnaire and, on instructions of the Legion, took 50,000 roubles from a hiding place and hid part of this sum. At the same time, even before the search, the investigative authorities had detailed information about Selin’s correspondence, and the hiding place had been equipped with a camera in advance.
Subsequently, Selin was charged with two more offences: spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army (Article 207.3 CC RF) and justifying terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2, CC RF) for comments made on Telegram. In a video published by the FSB, Selin testified on his knees, handcuffed, and without a lawyer being present. In court, Selin said he had been forced to confess to the charges. He said the FSB officers used a taser on him and threatened him with other violence.
On 29 August 2025, a military court in Moscow sentenced Selin to 18 years’ imprisonment, with the first four years to be served in a cell-type prison and the rest in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Vadim Selin a political prisoner?
The charge of participating in a terrorist organisation was based on an unlawful and unfounded decision by the Russian Supreme Court to designate the Free Russia Legion a terrorist organisation. As part of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Legion’s activities during the armed conflict are not terrorism, but participation in the legitimate defence of Ukraine against Russian aggression. Furthermore, it is not possible to join a military unit by means of correspondence on a messenger app.
There is clear evidence Selin was the victim of a sting operation by the police. The security forces knew the content of Selin’s correspondence even before they searched his home, and the hiding place where the Legion’s alleged ‘representative’ told him to go had been equipped with a camera in advance. The FSB published footage from this camera, as well as a recording of Selin’s ‘confessions’ that were given under pressure and without a lawyer. Despite the defence’s objections, such evidence was deemed admissible.
We do not know which of Selin’s comments were considered justification and propaganda of terrorism. However, if they concerned the Free Russia Legion, dissemination of information about this unit cannot be classified as justification or propaganda of terrorism since it is a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces, not a terrorist organisation. No comments by Selin of which we are aware contained calls for people to engage in violence and no justification of terrorism, only emotional criticism of the war against Ukraine.
The charge of disseminating ‘fake news’ about the Russian army was also unfounded. This article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation effectively prohibits any criticism of the Russian authorities or the army, in violation of the right to freedom of expression. This article should be rescinded and all related prosecutions closed.
A detailed description of Vadim Selin’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Vadim Selin at the following address:
RU:
399783, Липецкая область, г. Елец, ул. Пролетарская, д. 1Б, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Липецкой области, Селин Вадим Владимирович, 1989 г. р.
EN:
Vadim Vladimirovich Selin (born 1989), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service for Lipetsk Oblast, 1 B Proletarskaya Street, Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, 399783, Russia.
In Russian: Российская Федерация, 107996, г. Москва, ул. Матросская тишина, д. 18, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по г. Москве, Селин Вадим Владимирович, 1989 г. р.
You can also send emails via 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.
