We consider that Nikita Uvarov is a political prisoner and Denis Mikhaylenko and Bogdan Andreev are persecuted on political grounds

Three teenagers from Krasnoyarsk Krai were arrested on terrorist charges in 2020. Uvarov was given 5 years in prison and his two friends received suspended sentences

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Nikita Uvarov to be a political prisoner and Denis Mikhaylenko and Bogdan Andreev to be politically persecuted without imprisonment. All of them are being prosecuted in the case of Kansk teenage anarchists for their political views. Their criminal prosecution violates the right to freedom of expression, and the investigation of the case infringes on their right to a fair trial.

We demand the immediate release of Nikita Uvarov and that all charges against the teenagers be dropped.

What is the case against Kansk teenage anarchists?

Nikita Uvarov and two of his friends, Denis Mikhaylenko and Bogdan Andreev, were arrested in June 2020 after they put up stickers on the local Federal Security Service office in Kansk, a town in Krasnoyarsk Krai (about 3500 km to the east of Moscow). The stickers contained information critical of the state and in support of anarchist political prisoners: Azat Miftakhov and the defendants in the ‘Network’ case arrested on terrorism-related charges.

They were 14 years old at the time and became the youngest ‘terrorists’ in Russia: all of them were charged under the article on receiving training for terrorist activities (Article 205.3, of the Russian Criminal Code). The investigation claimed that they had intended to blow up the FSB office in Kansk to intimidate and destabilise the security forces and to demonstrate ‘the importance of the anarchist organisation’.

Andreev and Mikhaylenko pleaded guilty and were put under house arrest, while Uvarov, not admitting his guilt, was placed in a remand centre.

Subsequently, charges of conspiracy to illegally produce and store explosives in a group of people were added (Article 223.1, Part 2, and Article 222.1, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).

In November 2020, another criminal case was opened against the teenagers under the article on organising a terrorist community (Article 205.4 of the Russian Criminal Code): they were reportedly prosecuted for wanting to build and blow up an FSB office in Minecraft. Then, however, the prosecutor dropped this charge.

In February 2022, a military court found the three teenagers guilty on all the charges but exempted Andreev and Mikhaylenko from liability under Article 205.3 of the Russian Criminal Code due to their cooperation with the investigation. As a result, Uvarov was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment, while Andreev and Mikhaylenko were given 4 and 3 years of suspended sentences.

Why do we consider the case to be politically motivated?

The investigators have never provided evidence of the teenagers’ criminal intent to receive training for terrorism activity.

Although the prosecution specifies exactly when, where, and how the teenagers collected and detonated explosives, it has not been proved that the teenagers did it for terrorism-related purposes. The explosions which the defendants made in deserted places caused no harm to anyone.

We believe that these were simply teenagers’ experiments, and there are no grounds for criminal prosecution.

It is important to note that in fact, the court punished Nikita Uvarov, Denis Mikhaylenko, and Bogdan Andreev for their anarchist views as the case materials and the text of the court verdict equate anarchism with terrorism.

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 at the following address (letters must be written in Russian):

In Russian: 663600, Красноярский край, г. Канск, ул. Красной Армии, д. 1, ФКУ Канская ВК ГУФСИН России, Уварову Никите Андреевичу, 2005 г.р.

In English: Nikita Andreevich Uvarov (born 2005), Kansk Youth Detention Centre, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for Krasnoyarsk region, 1 Krasnoy Armii Street, Kansk 663600, Russia

You can also send an electronic letter via Rosuznik.

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