Arseny Glebov is a political prisoner

He is accused of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army and of intending to join an ‘illegal armed group’ for allegedly willing to join Ukraine’s armed forces

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international criteria, considers Arseny Glebov a political prisoner. Glebov is being prosecuted on charges of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army and attempting to join an ‘illegal armed group’ as he allegedly intended to join the International Legion, part of the Ukrainian armed forces. Glebov’s criminal prosecution violates his right to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand that all criminal charges against Arseny Glebov be dropped.

What are the charges against Arseny Glebov?

In the spring of 2022, Arseny Glebov, who lives in Tatarstan, was in Armenia. According to the investigative authorities, Glebov contacted the Ukrainian military attaché in Armenia and asked him for help in joining the International Legion of the Ukrainian armed forces. The military attaché refused. Glebov then returned to Russia to obtain the necessary documents and began looking for other ways to go to Ukraine.

In June 2022, FSB officers detained Glebov at the airport as he was about to fly to Armenia. They claimed that they found Glebov to be in possession of radios, spare parts for off-road vehicles, video cameras, microphones, a book by the Russian journalist Aleksandr Nevzorov, and a ring with a swastika on it.

Glebov was taken to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, where, on 29 June 2022, he was remanded in custody on charges of attempted participation in an illegal armed group for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 208, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).

In addition, a criminal investigation was opened against Glebov for spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army on grounds of political hatred (Article 207.3, Part 2). This charge was based on a comment written on YouTube. There Glebov addressed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky saying that he was ‘ready to undertake any task that would help bring Ukraine’s victory closer.’

Why do we consider Glebov a political prisoner?

We do not know for sure whether Glebov actually committed the acts imputed to him. However, in any case, neither an appeal to the President of Ukraine nor attempts to join the International Legion of the Ukrainian armed forces constitute a crime.

Article on spreading information known to be false about the Russian army, under which Glebov is being prosecuted, became law immediately after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. It effectively prohibits any criticism of the Russian authorities or the military in violation of the right to freedom of expression. It also contradicts Russia’s Constitution. Hence, any charges brought under it are unlawful.

The charge of attempted participation in an illegal armed group is also groundless. First of all, it is absurd to claim that the International Legion of the Ukrainian armed forces is an illegal group. This unit was established by decree of the President of Ukraine and operates legally. Moreover, actions to defend Ukraine from aggression do not contradict Russia’s interests. What does contradict Russia’s interests is the unleashing of a criminal war in violation of Russian and international law.

A detailed description of the case of Arseny Glebov and our position are available on our website.

Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.

How can you help?

You can write to Arseny Glebov at the following address:

In Russian: 420111, Республика Татарстан, г. Казань, ул. Япеева д. 16, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Республике Татарстан, Глебову Арсению Николаевичу, 1994 г. р.

In English: Arseny Nikolaevich Glebov (born 1994), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan, 16 Yapeev Street, Kazan, 420111, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.

You can send an email via Zonatelecom (for payment with Russian cards), PrisonMail (for other cards), or OVD-Info (free of charge).

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.

You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.