Voronezh man sentenced to nine years after spending a year under extradition arrest in Kazakhstan

Pavel Vladimirov, a 20-year-old resident of Voronezh, has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for attempting to join the Ukrainian army, the Voronezh Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced on 24 June.

The first four years are to be served in prison, the remainder in a strict-regime penal colony. He was also fined 300,000 roubles (approximately €3,400) and given one year of restricted liberty following his release.

Pavel Vladimirov was convicted of preparation for treason under part 1 of Article 30 and Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code, and of preparation for participation in a terrorist organisation under part 1 of Article 30 and part 2 of Article 205.5. The prosecution claims that ‘in August 2024, Vladimirov left Russia and made contact with representatives of a foreign state’s armed formations with the aim of joining their ranks. He submitted application forms and his personal data, and received instructions on how to proceed.’

Pavel Vladimirov, who was 18 at the time, was detained in Kazakhstan on 4 September 2024 at the request of the Russian authorities. It was Yakut anti-war activist Aikhal Ammosov who first reported that the young man was being held under extradition arrest. Aikhal Ammosov was released from a remand prison in Almaty in October 2024 and was able to leave for Germany.

Pavel Vladimirov spent twelve months in custody in Kazakhstan, the maximum permitted under Kazakh law. ‘By the time Pavel was released from the detention facility, his father had arrived and persuaded him to return to Russia with him. After that, they stopped making contact. His father said he would rather have his son nearby, even if it meant him being imprisoned,’ Denis Dzhivaga, director of the Kazakhstan Bureau for Human Rights, told Current Time.

The Union of Post-Soviet Leftists wrote of Pavel Vladimirov: ‘In Voronezh [before his departure] he was actively involved in street activism: putting up anti-war leaflets, painting graffiti and taking part in local rallies. Pavel held left-wing political views and, according to those close to him, considered himself an anarchist.’