Daria Kozyreva is a political prisoner
The 18-year-old from St. Petersburg has been arrested on charges of repeated ‘discrediting’ Russia’s army for sticking verses by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko on a monument to him in the city
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Daria Kozyreva a political prisoner. Kozyreva is being prosecuted on charges of repeatedly ‘discrediting’ the use of the Russian armed forces for sticking verses by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko on a monument to him in St. Petersburg. Daria Kozyreva’s criminal prosecution violates her rights to freedom of expression and fair trial.
We demand that Daria Kozyreva be immediately released and all criminal charges against her be dropped.
Who is Daria Kozyreva and what are the charges against her?
Daria Kozyreva, an 18-year-old St. Petersburg resident, became well-known in the city for her colourful protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Back in December 2022, Kozyreva was detained for putting up anti-war graffiti, ‘Murderers, you bombed it. Judases,’ on the installation ‘Two Hearts,’ put up in honour of the twinning of St. Petersburg and Mariupol. Initially, Kozyreva was charged with ‘discrediting’ the army (Article 20.3.3, Part 1, of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences). However, later a criminal case was opened against her for deliberately damaging property (Article 167, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). No investigative actions were carried out in this case.
In December 2023, Kozyreva was once again fined for the administrative-law offence of ‘discrediting’ the army for a post on the VK social media site, written on 4 March 2022. In the post, she criticised the amendments to the Criminal Code on ‘fake news’ and ‘discrediting’ the army and wrote about the ‘imperialist nature of the war’. Furthermore, Kozyreva was subsequently expelled from the university.
On 24 February 2024, on the second anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Daria Kozyreva held another anti-war protest. This time she stuck a piece of paper with lines from the poem ‘Testament’ by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko to the pedestal of the monument to him. Kozyreva was detained and charged with the criminal offence of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army (Article 280.3, Part 1).
On 27 February 2024, Kozyreva was remanded in custody.
Why do we consider Kozyreva a political prisoner?
The article on repeatedly ‘discrediting’ the army was adopted into law to suppress dissent after the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The article effectively prohibits any criticism of the war or of the Russian authorities. It violates the right to freedom of expression and contradicts the principle of legal certainty. This article should be rescinded, all convictions brought under it quashed and all related charges dropped.
The charges against Kozyreva are absurd. In 2024, she is being prosecuted for repeatedly ‘discrediting’ Russia’s army for lines by the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko written in 1845.
Expressing solidarity with the victims of armed aggression cannot be a crime. Kozyreva’s actions present no threat to society. What is a threat to society, however, is the war against Ukraine launched by the Russian authorities.
A detailed description of the case of Daria Kozyreva 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 Daria Kozyreva at the following address:
In Russian: 2195009, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Арсенальная, д. 11, ФКУ СИЗО-5 УФСИН России по Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области, Козыревой Дарье Александровне 2005 г. р.
In English: Daria Aleksandrovna Kozyreva (born 2005), Remand Prison No. 5, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, 11 Arsenalnaya Street, St. Petersburg, 2195009, Russia.
You can also send an electronic letter via F-Pismo (Russian bank cards), PrisonMail (other bank 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 find the latest information about the case of Daria Kozyreva on the Telegram channel of her support group.
You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.
