Sergei Udaltsov is a political prisoner
The politician has been charged with justifying terrorism for publicly supporting members of a Marxist circle on trial in Ufa
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Sergei Udaltsov a political prisoner. He is being prosecuted on a charge of public justification of terrorism for publications he made in support of Marxist activists remanded in custody on charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation. Udaltsov’s prosecution violates his rights to freedom of speech and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Sergei Udaltsov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
Who is Sergei Udaltsov and what are the charges against him?
Sergei Udaltsov is a left-wing politician and coordinator of the Left Front, a coalition of Russian left-wing groups affiliated with Russia’s Communist Party. Udaltsov was one of the leaders of the 2011-2013 protests in Russia against widespread electoral falsification. In 2014, he was sentenced to four and a half years in a penal colony on charges of organising riots on Bolotnaya Square on 6 May 2012. The Memorial Human Rights Centre at that time recognised him as a political prisoner.
After his release in 2017, Udaltsov publictly supported the annexation of Crimea and subsequently Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, he continued to criticise the actions of the Russian authorities inside the country.
In March 2022, members of a Marxist circle in Ufa were arrested and charged with a number of offences, including terrorism. Udaltsov considered the charges against the Ufa Marxists absurd. He publicised protests in their support and called for solidarity with those prosecuted.
On 11 January 2024, Russian security forces searched Udaltsov’s home. He was detained and remanded in custody on a charge of ‘public justification of terrorism using the Internet’ (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code) on the grounds of his publications in defence of the Ufa Marxists. If convicted, Udaltsov faces up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Why do we consider Udaltsov a political prisoner?
Udaltsov has been remanded in custody on a charge of public justification of terrorism for publications he made in support of Ufa Marxists accused of ‘terrorist’ offences. The charges against the Ufa Marxists were probably based on the testimony of a provocateur who infiltrated the group.
Udaltsov’s statements contain no justification of terrorism. He expressed his personal opinion that the criminal prosecution of the Marxists was unlawful and pointed out that there were no grounds for the investigative authorities to ‘treat the study of Marxism as terrorism.’ Udaltsov explicitly said that he and his comrades ‘have always been against any terrorist activity.’
It is unlawful to prosecute people for the mere fact of urging solidarity with defendants. We fear that there will be an increase in such prosecutions on charges of justifying terrorism in connection with defendants unlawfully prosecuted on ‘terrorist’ charges.
While we disagree with Udaltsov’s position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we believe that he is being unlawfully prosecuted for his criticism of the Russian authorities.
A detailed description of Sergei Udaltsov’s case and of our position is 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 Sergei Udaltsov at the following address:
In Russian: 109382, г. Москва, ул. Верхние поля, д. 57, ФКУ СИЗО-7 УФСИН России по г. Москве, Удальцову Сергею Станиславовичу, 1977 г. р.
In English: Sergei Stanislavovich Udaltsov (born 1977), Remand Prison No. 7, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the city of Moscow, 57 Verkhniye Polya Street, Moscow, 109382, 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.
