{"id":33761,"date":"2024-04-24T13:22:52","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T10:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-roberta-shonova\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T23:51:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:51:19","slug":"my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-roberta-shonova","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/en\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-roberta-shonova\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Shonov is a political prisoner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Russian who formerly worked at the US consulate in Vladivostok has been remanded in custody on charges of \u2018colluding with a foreign power\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Political Prisoners. Memorial,\u2019 human rights project in accordance with international standards<\/a>, considers Robert Shonov a political prisoner. Shonov is being prosecuted on charges of \u2018colluding with representatives of a foreign power.\u2019 Shonov\u2019s criminal prosecution violates his rights to freedom of information and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Robert Shonov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Robert<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Who is Robert Shonov and what are the charges against him?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert Shonov, 63, worked at the US Consulate General in Vladivostok for 25 years. After President Putin banned diplomats of \u2018unfriendly countries\u2019 from hiring Russians in 2021, the consulate closed. Shonov then went to work for a Russian company that legally provided services to the US Embassy in Moscow. Shonov compiled news reports based on publications in Russian media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2023, Shonov was detained in Vladivostok by FSB officers. At the end of August that year, law enforcement officers distributed footage of Shonov\u2019s arrest and a video of his confession. In the video, Shonov said he had been instructed by US Embassy officials to collect \u2018information about negative events and to look for protest moods among the general public and reflect this information in his reports.\u2019 He was also allegedly supposed to look for journalists, businesspeople, and politicians in Russia who were \u2018loyal to the United States.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shonov was first remanded in custody in Ussuriysk and then transferred to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre in Moscow. If convicted on charges of \u2018colluding with representatives of a foreign power in order to assist in activities against the security of the Russian Federation\u2019 (Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code), he faces up to eight years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we consider Shonov a political prisoner?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The offence of ‘colluding with a foreign power\u2019 was added to the Russian Criminal Code in July 2022. It became yet another tool with which to fight \u2018internal enemies.\u2019 The provisions of this law do not comply with the principle of legal certainty. In particular, they do not define what \u2018collusion\u2019 actually means. Essentially, Article 275.1 criminalises any communication between Russian citizens and foreigners. The law should be rescinded, all related criminal convictions quashed, and ongoing prosecutions closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shonov’s work compiling news summaries based on open sources is not a crime. Providing such services does not violate the law and cannot be considered an activity against Russia’s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A detailed description of the case of Robert Shonov and our position are available on our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the \u2018Political Prisoners. Memorial\u2019 human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you help?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can donate<\/a> to support all political prisoners in Russia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-33761","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","regions-moscow","regions-primorie-krai","news-type-nashi-novosti-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRobert Shonov is a political prisoner - Political prisoners support. 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