{"id":48515,"date":"2025-06-26T14:13:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T11:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-dmitriya-goldycheva\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T16:40:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:40:07","slug":"my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-dmitriya-goldycheva","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/en\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-dmitriya-goldycheva\/","title":{"rendered":"Dmitry Goldychev is a political prisoner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A St Petersburg resident has been sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime penal colony for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Political Prisoners. Memorial\u2019 human rights project, in accordance with<\/strong> international standards<\/strong><\/a>, considers Dmitry Goldychev a political prisoner. For corresponding with the Free Russia Legion and attempting to enter Ukraine from Belarus, Goldychev was convicted on charges of \u2018attempting to commit treason\u2019 and \u2018attempting to participate on the territory of a foreign state in an armed group not provided for by the legislation of that state for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation.\u2019 Goldychev\u2019s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that Goldychev be immediately released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What were the charges against Dmitry Goldychev?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On 3 June 2023, Dmitry Goldychev was detained by Belarusian border guards near the border with Ukraine. He was then deported to Russia where, on 11 June, a court in Smolensk remanded him in custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, Goldychev was charged with \u2018preparing to participate in an armed group not provided for by the legislation of that state, for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation\u2019 (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 208, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). He had allegedly sent an application form to the Free Russia Legion, purchased medical supplies and equipment, and intended to cross the border into Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine months later, Goldychev was additionally charged with \u2018attempted treason\u2019 (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 275). Shortly before Goldychev\u2019s trial, the original charges were also toughened, and preparing <\/em>to \u2018participate in an armed group not provided for by the legislation of that state for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation\u2019 was reclassified as an attempt<\/em> to do so (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 208, Part 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trial was held behind closed doors. On 29 May 2024, Goldychev was sentenced to 13 years\u2019 imprisonment, with the first four years to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony, a fine of 200,000 roubles, and 18 months\u2019 probation on release. On 5 December 2024, the sentence was upheld on appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we consider Dmitry Goldychev a political prisoner?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We believe Goldychev\u2019s actions did not constitute a criminal offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under international law, Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine is illegal and criminal, while Ukraine\u2019s actions in defending itself against aggression are lawful and justified. Therefore, assisting Ukraine in defending itself from aggression is not, in itself, directed against the security of Russia and there are no grounds to prosecute Goldychev on a charge of attempted treason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free Russia Legion is a unit of the Ukrainian armed forces engaged in defending the country from Russian aggression, not an \u2018armed group not provided for by the legislation\u2019 of Ukraine. Participation in the Free Russia Legion does not run counter to the interests of Russia; what does run counter to those interests is the war of aggression initiated by Russia\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of international law, the only prohibited form of foreign participation in hostilities is mercenarism. The activities of members of the Free Russia Legion do not fall under his definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dmitry Goldychev was sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment solely for intending to join the Free Russia Legion. We consider the punishment grossly disproportionate to the alleged public danger of his actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A detailed description of Dmitry Goldychev\u2019s case and of our position is 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 write to Dmitry Goldychev at the following address:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RU: 600020, \u0433. \u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440, \u0443\u043b. \u0411\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0430\u044f \u041d\u0438\u0436\u0435\u0433\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f, \u0434. 67, \u0424\u041a\u0423 \u0422-2 \u0423\u0424\u0421\u0418\u041d \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0412\u043b\u0430\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438, \u0413\u043e\u043b\u0434\u044b\u0447\u0435\u0432 \u0414\u043c\u0438\u0442\u0440\u0438\u0439 \u0412\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447, 1972 \u0433. \u0440.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EN: Dmitry Valentinovich Goldychev (born 1972), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service for Vladimir Oblast, 67 Bolshaya Nizhegorodskaya Street, Vladimir, 600020, Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also send an email using ZT<\/a> (for payment with all bank cards), OVD-Info<\/a> and Memorial-France<\/a> (free of charge).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can donate<\/a> to help all political prisoners in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-48515","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","regions-belarus-en","regions-smolensk-oblast","news-type-nashi-novosti-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDmitry Goldychev is a political prisoner - Political prisoners support. Memorial<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A St Petersburg resident has been sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime penal colony for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/en\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnym-dmitriya-goldycheva\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dmitry Goldychev is a political prisoner - Political prisoners support. 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