The six defendants in the Vesna case are political prisoners
A criminal case for alleged involvement in the Vesna movement has been initiated on a number of charges against a group of young men and women, six of whom have been remanded in custody
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yevgeny Zateev, Valentin Khoroshenin, Vasily Neustroev, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Anna Arkhipova and Pavel Sinelnikov to be political prisoners. The six are being prosecuted, on account of their alleged involvement in the Vesna political movement, on charges of creating and participating in an extremist group, creating an NGO that infringes on citizens’ rights, inciting rioting and inducing citizens to unlawful actions, as well as under a number of laws that introduced military censorship in Russia after the start of the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their criminal prosecution violates the rights to freedom of association, freedom of thought and expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly.
We demand the release of Yevgeny Zateev, Valentin Khoroshenin, Vasily Neustroev, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Anna Arkhipova and Pavel Sinelnikov from custody, as well as the dropping of all criminal charges against all defendants in the Vesna case, including 15 individuals on the federal wanted list we consider to be victims of wrongful politically motivated prosecution.
What is the background to the Vesna case?
Vesna (Spring in Russian) is a young people’s democratic movement that aims to ‘build a new Russia based on freedom and human rights.’ The movement was founded in 2013 and has been organising political events in Russia.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vesna began coordinating anti-war protests.
In May 2022, the first criminal case was brought against several members of Vesna on charges of ‘creating an NGO that infringes on citizens’ rights’ (Article 239 of the Russian Criminal Code). In October, the movement was designated a foreign agent and, in December, an extremist organisation.
A major new prosecution of 21 people was initiated on 5 June 2023. According to the Investigative Committee, members of the Vesna movement came together to form an extremist group in order to obstruct the activities of Russian state bodies, to abolish law enforcement agencies, as well as to harm the defence of the country (Article 282.1, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code and Article 282.1, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code), to incite citizens to take unlawful actions (Article 239, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code ), to incite rioting (Article 212, Part 1.1, of the Russian Criminal Code), to disseminate information known to be false about the Russian army (Article 207.3, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code ) and about the ‘days of military glory’ (Article 354.1, Part 4, of the Russian Criminal Code), as well as to publicly call for activities that harm the security of Russia (Article 280.4, Part 3, of the Russian Criminal Code).
On 6 June 2023, Yevgeny Zateev, Valentin Khoroshenin, Vasily Neustroev, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Anna Arkhipova and Pavel Sinelnikov were remanded in custody.
Why do we consider the defendants in the Vesna case political prisoners?
By declaring Vesna an extremist organisation and an NGO that ‘infringes on citizens’ rights,’ the Russian authorities have criminalised ordinary political activity. For example, the Investigative Committee calls extremist a number of proposals put forward by Vesna, such as: ‘The police in Russia should be reformed: the Ministry of Internal Affairs should be split up, some of its subdivisions, such as the ‘Centre E’ [anti-extremism police], should be dissolved and the ‘quota system’ for assessing police work abolished.’
The charge of inciting rioting is based on an anonymous online denunciation published as a comment on Vesna’s chat room which had no real consequences.
The charge of rehabilitation of Nazism is based on criticism of the use of Victory Day for the propaganda of militarism and war.
The Investigative Committee considers advice published by Vesna on how to avoid being sent to the war as public incitement to carry out activities against the security of the state.
The charge of spreading ‘fake news’ about the army is based on the publication of information about Russian military losses during the war and Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
A detailed description of the case and the position of the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project are set out 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 of, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to the defendants as follows:
In Russian:
109382, г. Москва, ул. Верхние Поля, д. 57, СИЗО-7 УФСИН РФ по г. Москве; Затееву Евгению Артёмовичу, 2001 г.р.; Хорошенину Валентину Алексеевичу, 2001 г.р.; Ксенжепольскому Яну Александровичу, 2000 г.р.; Синельникову Павлу Николаевичу, 2001 г.р.; Неустроеву Василию Петровичу, 1995 г.р.
109383, г. Москва, ул. Шоссейная д. 92, ФКУ СИЗО-6 УФСИН РФ по г. Москве, Архиповой Анне Николаевне, 1997 г.р.
In English:
Valentin Alekseevich Khoroshenin (born 2001); Yan Aleksandrovich Ksenzhepolsky (born 2000); Pavel Nikolaevich Sinelnikov (born 2001); Vasily Petrovich Neustroev (born 1995); Yevgeny Artyomovich Zateev (born 2001); Remand Prison No. 7, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for Moscow, 57 Verkhnie Polya Street, Moscow, 109382, Russia.
Anna Nikolaevna Arkhipova (born in 1997); Remand Prison No. 6, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for Moscow, 92 Shosseinaya Street, Moscow, 109383, Russia.
Or you can send an electronic letter using the F-Pismo or Zonatelecom services; or, for payment using foreign bank cards, the PrisonMail service.
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to support all political prisoners on our website.
