Dmitry Aritkulov is a political prisoner

The Chukotka resident has been sentenced to five and a half years’ imprisonment for posts criticising the Russian military and authorities

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Dmitry Aritkulov a political prisoner. Aritkulov has been convicted on charges of justification of terrorism and incitement of extremism, as well as desecration of the Russian coat of arms. Aritkulov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violate his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial.

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

What were the charges against Dmitry Aritkulov?

Dmitry Aritkulov lived in the village of Lavrentiya in Chukotka and worked as an electrician at the Khabarovsk division of Rostelecom.

Back in 2021, the persecution of Aritkulov began with several administrative law charges for messages on WhatsApp groups. Courts sentenced him five times to fines and once to a short term in jail for these publications, which law enforcement officers considered extremist and showing disrespect to the state and society.

In December 2022, it became known that Aritkulov had been remanded in custody on charges of rehabilitation of Nazism (Article 354.1, Part 4, of the Russian Criminal Code) and incitement of extremism (Article 280, Part 2).

We have no further information about Artikulov’s prosecution for rehabilitation of Nazism. However, in July 2023, the cases against Aritkulov for incitement of extremism, justification of terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2), and desecration of the coat of arms of Russia (Article 329) were sent to court. The investigative authorities argued that texts criticising the military and the authorities, which Aritkulov posted on Telegram and WhatsApp, contain propaganda of terrorism and incitement of extremism. They also argued that Aritkulov’s proposal to create a new coat of arms for Russia with a mop, a sledgehammer and a rake was an abuse of the coat of arms.

On 25 October 2023, a court sentenced Dmitry Aritkulov to five and a half years in a general regime penal colony.

Why do we consider Aritkulov a political prisoner?

The laws on justification of terrorism and incitement of extremism are increasingly used by law enforcement agencies to combat dissenters in Russia. The case of Aritkulov is a vivid example. His prosecution and conviction were solely on the grounds of comments he made criticising the Russian military and the authorities on Telegram and WhatsApp. At the same time, Aritkulov’s statements present no danger to the public. For example, wishing ‘death to the occupiers’ should be considered only in the context of Russia’s ongoing criminal war against Ukraine; and wishing death to Vladimir Putin expresses Aritkulov’s negative attitude towards the president of Russia, rather than being a call for direct action against him.

Prosecution for desecration of the Russian coat of arms is also unlawful. This law should be applied primarily in cases of direct physical action against the Russian coat of arms. Aritkulov is merely fantasising about what an alternative coat of arms could be like.

A detailed description of the case of Dmitry Aritkulov and our position are 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 Dmitry Aritkulov at the following address:

In Russian: 689000, Чукотский автономный округ, Анадырь, ул. Ленина, д. 16А, ИВС МОМВД России «Анадырский», Ариткулову Дмитрию Винеровичу, 1978 г. р. (предположительно).

In English: Dmitry Vinerovich Aritkulov (born 1978), Anadyrsky District Police Temporary Detention Centre, 16A Ulitsa Lenina, Anadyr, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, 689000, Russia. (assumed address)

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.