Roman Ivanov, a journalist, is a political prisoner

He has been remanded in custody on charges of disseminating ‘fake news’ for publications about the crimes of the Russian army in Ukraine

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, has recognised Roman Ivanov, a journalist from the Moscow region, as a political prisoner. Ivanov is being prosecuted, on charges of disseminating information known to be false about the actions of the Russian army, for journalistic publications about Russia’s crimes in Ukraine. Ivanov’s prosecution violates his right to freedom of expression and is designed to silence the voices of independent journalists and of all those in Russia who oppose the country’s war against Ukraine.

We demand the immediate release of Roman Ivanov and that all charges brought against him under the unconstitutional article of the Russian Criminal Code on spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army be dropped.

Who is Roman Ivanov and what are the charges against him?

Roman Ivanov is a RusNews journalist from Korolyov near Moscow and author of the oppositionist Telegram channel ‘Chestnoe Korolyovskoe!’ [Honest Korolyov!] in which he regularly published materials critical of the Russian authorities. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ivanov remained in Russia.

On 11 April 2023, law enforcement officers searched Ivanov’s apartment. A criminal case was opened against him for the dissemination of information known to be false about the use of the Russian army motivated by political hatred (Article 207.3, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code). Grounds for the prosecution were publications on the Telegram channel ‘Honest Korolyov!’ and on the VK page of the same name about the crimes of Russian military personnel in Ukraine.

Ivanov is accused of publishing materials about the killing of civilians in Bucha near Kyiv and about Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, as well as retelling the UN report on war crimes committed by the Russian army.

On 12 April, the Korolyov City Court remanded Ivanov in custody. The journalist faces up to 10 years of imprisonment if convicted.

Why do we consider Roman Ivanov a political prisoner?

We believe that the provisions of Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code contradict the Russian Constitution and Russia’s international obligations, as well as fundamental principles of law.

In practice, Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code criminalises any reporting of facts about the use of the Russian army and other Russian state bodies abroad that differ from the official position of Russia’s authorities.

Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code was created as an instrument for the suppression of dissent. It is being used to prosecute critics of the Russian authorities and should be rescinded.

You can read more about the case of Roman Ivanov and the position of the Human Rights Project on our website.

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

How can you help?

You can write to Roman Ivanov at the following address:

In English: Roman Viktorovich Ivanov (born 1973), Remand Prison No. 1, 5 Tolstovskaya Street, Noginsk, 142400, Moscow Region, Russia.

In Russian: 142400, Московская область, г. Ногинск, ул. Толстовская, д. 5, СИЗО-1, Иванову Роману Викторовичу, 1973 г.р.

You can also send an electronic letter via F-pismo.ru.

Here you can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.

You can follow developments in the prosecution of Roman Ivanov via the Telegram channels RusNews and Honest Korolyov!.