We consider Oleksiy Kiselyov a political prisoner

An activist from the Ukrainian town of Henichesk was kidnapped, tortured, and then convicted of participating in a Crimean Tatar battalion

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Oleksiy Kiselyov a political prisoner. The Ukrainian activist from Henichesk in the Kherson region of Ukraine was arrested on fabricated charges of participation in an illegal armed formation. The kidnapping, torture, and criminal prosecution of Kiselyov are part of a repressive campaign unleashed by Russia on the occupied Ukrainian territories.

We demand the immediate release of Oleksiy Kiselyov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

What is the case against Oleksiy Kiselyov?

Oleksiy Kiselyov is a retired captain in the Ukrainian Navy. After retirement, he lived in Sevastopol in Crimea.

He did not support the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and left it for the Kherson region (mainland Ukraine). There he became one of the founders of the public organisation named ‘Pereselenets SOS’ (‘Displaced SOS’ in English), which fights for the rights of people displaced from the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea.

After the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Kiselyov was unable to leave the occupied territory. On 22 July 2022, he disappeared. As Kiselyov told his lawyer, he was kidnapped and then held hostage at a Russian National Guard base where he was beaten and tortured with electric shocks.

According to the Russian investigation, on 27 July 2022, Kiselyov allegedly attempted to cross the border into Crimea, where he was detained for participation in an illegal armed formation some time ago (Article 208, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). The retired captain was accused of supposedly supplying food to members of the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan.

Later, charges of attempting to organise a ‘naval blockade of Crimea’ on a small fishing vessel were added. Two witnesses (one of them was arrested in a similar case, information on the other one is classified) claim that in 2016 they were going to go to the sea and unwind cables with buoys to ‘block Crimea’. According to the witnesses, their plan was foiled only because the boat broke down.

On 16 February 2023, a court in Crimea sentenced Kiselyov to 8.5 years in a strict regime penal colony.

Why do we consider Kiselyov a political prisoner?

Like most other cases of involvement in the activities of the Noman Çelebicihan battalion, the case of Oleksiy Kiselyov is almost entirely based on the testimony of witnesses. Except for their statements, the investigation has no evidence that Kiselyov could have provided food to the members of the formation.

Similarly, there is no evidence proving the existence of an absurd plan of the ‘sea blockade of Crimea’ with ropes and buoys.

We believe that Oleksiy Kiselyov’s participation in the battalion is not proven. Moreover, the very fact of taking part in this formation does not constitute a crime.

The creation of the battalion was announced by Lenur Islyamov, a businessman, in September 2015. At the same time, the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people declared a civil blockade of Crimea. The members of the formation monitored and checked trucks on the ‘border’ with Crimea. Since January 2016, members of the ‘Asker’ public association, created as a part of the battalion, patrolled together with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The battalion has never taken part in real military operations.

Even though the creation of this public formation has not been legislated, its activities cannot be considered illegal. Joint border patrols with the Ukrainian military are proof of this. Russia’s interests are clearly contradicted not by the battalion’s activities but by the illegal seizure of Ukrainian territory.

Further information about this case and the position of the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project 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 of their views, statements, or actions.

How can you help?

You can write to Oleksiy Kiselyov at the following address:

In Russian: 295006, г. Симферополь, ул. Б-р Ленина, д. 4, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Республики Крым и г. Севастополю, Киселёву Алексею Алексеевичу, 1964 г. р.

In English: Oleksiy Oleksiyovych Kiselyov (born 1964), Remand Prison No. 1, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, 4 Lenin Boulevard, Simferopol 295006

You can also send an electronic letter via Zonatelecom

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