We consider Viktor Moskalyov, an employee of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, a political prisoner

He was arrested for spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian military for his anti-war comments on the Internet

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Viktor Moskalyov a political prisoner. He has been prosecuted for posting anti-war comments on a professional website under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, punishing the dissemination of ‘false’ information about the use of the Russian army. The persecution of Viktor Moskalyov violates his right to freedom of speech and is designed to silence Russia’s opponents of the war against Ukraine.

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

What is the case against Viktor Moskalyov?

On 9 April 2022, Viktor Moskalyov posted two comments on the Executive business networking site. The first one contained information that Russian troops had completely destroyed the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and shelled Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kyiv, killing civilians in Ukraine. The second one mentioned that Russian soldiers stole TVs, raped and killed Ukrainian girls. The word-for-word content of the comments is unknown.

According to the prosecution case, Moskalyov publicly disseminated, under the guise of reliable reports, false information about the use of the Russian army on the grounds of political hatred. In an expert’s opinion, the comments are misleading because they contradict the position of the Russian Defence Ministry.

On 28 March 2023, Moskalyov’s home was searched, and on the same day, he was detained at his workplace at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology by the FSB (Russia’s internal security service). On 30 March, he was formally arrested and placed in a remand centre.

On 16 June 2023, a court in Moscow ruled to transfer Moskalyov to a closed medical facility for involuntary psychiatric treatment. Later, Moskalyov’s lawyer revealed that his defendant had been formally recognised to be mentally ill.

Why do we consider Moskalyov a political prisoner?

We believe that Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code contradicts both the Constitution of the Russian Federation and Russian international obligations, as well as the basic principles of law.

In fact, it criminalises any reports on the use of the Russian army and other state bodies abroad that do not coincide with the Russian authorities’ position.

Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code was created as a tool to suppress dissent, prosecute critics of the Russian authorities, and therefore should be abolished. Viktor Moskalyov’s statements exercised his right to freedom of expression and cannot be qualified as a crime. According to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ‘everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference … this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice’.

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’ project agrees with, or approves of their views, statements, or actions.

How can you help?

On our website, you can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.