Viktor Pokusin is a political prisoner
An ensign from Siberia was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony for desertion and collusion with the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Viktor Pokusin a political prisoner. Pokusin was convicted on charges of failing to report for duty, desertion, and collusion for refusing military service and allegedly contacting the Free Russia Legion. Pokusin’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Viktor Pokusin and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Viktor Pokusin?
Viktor Pokusin, a contract soldier from Novosibirsk Oblast, twice left his unit after September 2022 to travel to another region. The first time, he was charged with failing to report for duty on time (Article 337, Part 2.1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), given a suspended sentence of one year, and ordered to continue his military service.
In June 2023, Pokusin left his unit again, stating he no longer wished to serve in the army and had no legal opportunity to resign after mobilisation was announced. Pokusin was detained and charged with desertion (Article 338, Part 3, CC RF). In September 2023, a court in Novosibirsk sentenced him to six years in a penal colony.
Almost a year later, Pokusin was charged with ‘collusion with foreigners’ (Article 275.1 CC RF) on the grounds that he had agreed to set fire to military enlistment offices, gather information and distribute leaflets on behalf of the Free Russia Legion. In August 2024, Viktor Pokusin was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, taking into account the unserved part of his previous sentence.
Why do we consider Viktor Pokusin a political prisoner?
After mobilisation began in the autumn of 2022, the offences of ‘failure to report for duty’ and ‘desertion’ were tightened and became instruments of prosecution for refusing to participate in military action. Service personnel effectively lost the opportunity to resign. It was at this very moment that Pokusin attempted to leave his unit for the first time in ten years of service. His actions can be understood as an attempt to refuse to participate in the war of aggression Russia was then waging against Ukraine.
The political nature of Pokusin’s prosecution is confirmed by the charge of ‘collusion with foreigners.’ Pokusin’s alleged contacts and discussions with the Free Russia Legion, which the investigative authorities call ‘collusion,’ are difficult to explain otherwise than as an expression of disagreement with the war and a desire to oppose it. This is consistent with the fact that Pokusin tried to leave the military immediately after the start of mobilisation.
The offence of ‘collusion’ was added to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in July 2022 and has since become yet another instrument used by the regime to combat ‘internal enemies.’ The law’s provisions do not comply with the principle of legal certainty, in essence criminalising any communication between Russian citizens and foreigners and providing for punishment not for specific actions, but merely for an alleged intention to ‘facilitate’ some undefined ‘activity.’ The law on ‘collusion’ must be rescinded, all related convictions quashed and ongoing prosecutions dropped.
Viktor Pokusin’s prosecution was consequent upon his desire not to participate in the war and his disagreement with the Russian state’s military aggression.
A detailed description of Viktor Pokusin’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Viktor Pokusin at the following address:
RU:
630097, г. Новосибирск, ул. Звёздная, д. 34, ФКУ ИК-3 ГУФСИН России по Новосибирской области, Покусин Виктор Сергеевич, 1992 г. р.
EN:
Viktor Sergeevich Pokusin (born 1992), Penal Colony No. 3, Federal Penitentiary Service for Novosibirsk Oblast, 34 Zvyozdnaya Street, Novosibirsk, 630097, Russia.
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