We Will Remember: Honoring Russia’s Opposition Leaders
Aleksei Navalny
Alexei Navalny, founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), was one of Vladimir Putin’s main opponents.
He focused on exposing corruption at the highest levels of power and ran for the presidency of Russia.
He survived an assassination attempt by government agencies using chemical weapons and ultimately died in prison.
Boris Nemtsov
Boris Nemtsov, former governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region and a member of the State Duma, was a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policies. His team issued two of the most significant reports – “Putin: Results” and “Putin: Warfare” – providing detailed insights into the nation’s status through data-driven analysis and visual aids.
He was assassinated near the Kremlin.
NEWS
Journalist Mikhail Zygar has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a Russian penal colony
Journalist Mikhail Zygar has been sentenced in absentia to 8.5 years in a Russian penal colony.
This decision was made by the Basmanny Court in Moscow. Zygar was found guilty under the article on “military fakes.” The charge was based on a post he made in the summer of 2022 about the massacre in Bucha.
Zygar left Russia shortly after the war began, and in October 2022, Russian authorities designated him as a “foreign agent.” In April of this year, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put him on the wanted list.
The journalist from Ufa, Olga Komleva, who was arrested in connection with Navalny’s FBK case, has also been charged with disseminating “fake news” about the Russian Armed Forces
The Basmanny District Court held sessions on extending her detention and setting deadlines for familiarizing herself with the case. A correspondent from “Mediazona” reported that in addition to the charge of “participation in an extremist community,” Olga has been accused of spreading “fake news” about the Russian Armed Forces.
The journalist was detained in March of this year. Previously, she was a volunteer at Alexei Navalny’s headquarters and participated in the 2021 protests after the politician returned from Germany.
As a correspondent for RusNews, she covered protests in Bashkortostan, including actions in Baymak related to the sentencing of activist Fail Alsynov.
The charge of participation in a terrorist organization carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The accusation of spreading “fake news” could lead to a sentence of 5 to 10 years in a penal colony.
This photo shows journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for her anti-war book
She worked for “Radio Liberty.” In Prague, in 2022, she wrote a book titled “No to War: 40 Stories of Russians Against the Invasion of Ukraine.” However, in 2023, she had to return to Kazan to help her mother and disabled brother.
That’s where the authorities detained her, demonstrating their focus on persecuting dissenters. Her book was never even published, but that was enough to imprison her.
The authorities are desperately afraid of people like Alsu. Instead of targeting real criminals, they arrest those who oppose Putin and his criminal war. Strength to Alsu…
Archangelsk journalist Alesya Krivtsova fled Russia to escape persecution
Activist and employee of The Barents Observer, Alesya Krivtsova, fled to Norway in March of last year while under house arrest. She faces charges of “discrediting the Russian Armed Forces” and “justifying terrorism.”
Yulia Navalnaya Added to Russia’s List of Terrorists and Extremists
Two days ago, the Basmanny Court in Moscow ordered the arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, in absentia, accusing her of “participation in an extremist organization.” Additionally, she has been placed on a wanted list in Russia.
Russian authorities have labeled Navalny’s organizations as “extremist,” leading to the persecution of those who worked with them and even those who made donations.
Actress Yana Troyanova has been added to the list of terrorists and extremists
Rosfinmonitoring has included actress Yana Troyanova (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia) in the list of terrorists and extremists.
Troyanova was added to the register of foreign agents in November 2023. According to the Russian Ministry of Justice, the actress disseminated false information about the decisions of Russian authorities and their policies. She attempted to contest her designated status, but the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow rejected her lawsuit.
Subsequently, the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office identified elements of a criminal offense in Troyanova’s actions. Materials for criminal prosecution of the actress were sent to investigative authorities, in accordance with the article on “Inciting Hatred and Enmity.
The actress was forced to leave Russia to avoid persecution.
Yevgeniya Berkovich and Svetlana Petriychuk Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Anti-War Poems
The 2nd Western District Military Court found director Yevgeniya Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk guilty of justifying terrorism (Part 2, Article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code) in the play “Finist the Bright Falcon” and sentenced them to six years in prison. The defense lawyers continue to assert their clients’ innocence and plan to appeal the verdict.
Urals Human Rights Activist Aleksei Sokolov arrested for Facebook Logo
The social media platforms Facebook and Instagram were banned and blocked in Russia in March 2022 after their parent company, Meta, was designated an “extremist” organization and prohibited from operating in the country.
On July 5th, Alexei Sokolov, the head of the human rights organization “Legal Basis,” which advocates for prisoners’ rights, was detained by Russian authorities following a search of his home. He is accused of “repeatedly displaying extremist symbols” (Article 282.4 of the Russian Criminal Code). Earlier, in October 2023, he became the first person in Russia to serve a five-day administrative arrest for displaying the Facebook logo online.
A nurse criticized the authorities on social media and was detained for spreading fake news about the Russian army. She faces up to 3 years in prison
In Moscow, a nurse and civil activist, Olga Menshikh, was detained on charges of spreading “fake news” about the Russian army (Article 207.3, Part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code). Her lawyer, Oskar Cherdzhiev, reported this in his stories on Telegram. Menshikh’s acquaintances confirmed this information to OVD-Info.
During the day, officers from the capital’s Investigative Committee conducted a search at Menshikh’s apartment. According to her acquaintances, the authorities “turned everything upside down,” kept the woman in handcuffs, and did not allow her to drink water. They also refused to let Menshikh’s English tutor leave the premises. Law enforcement confiscated all electronic devices, after which Menshikh was taken for questioning to the Dorogomilovsky Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee.
A programmer and head of a Buddhist center has been arrested on charges of spreading “fake news” due to posts on Facebook
The Preobrazhensky Court of Moscow has arrested Ilya Vasilyev, the founder of the “Civic School of Hackers” and a programmer. He is accused of spreading fake news about the army (Part 2, Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code). This information was reported to RBC by his lawyer, Oskar Cherdzhiev.
The arrest was prompted by Vasilyev’s posts on Facebook (the owner of Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia), where he wrote about the Russian Armed Forces’ strikes on Ukrainian territory.
The lawyer stated that law enforcement found these posts on equipment seized from Vasilyev a year ago when his smartphone was confiscated during a search of his apartment.
The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office demanded the initiation of a criminal case against Elizaveta Gyrdymova. The singer was forced to leave Russia
Previously, the Russian Ministry of Justice recognized the singer Monetochka (real name — Elizaveta Gyrdymova) as a foreign agent. This was reported on the agency’s website.
According to the explanation, the performer ‘received support from foreign sources, raised funds in support of an unfriendly country — Ukraine, and spoke out against the special military operation in Ukraine.’ It is noted that she resides outside of Russia.
The status of ‘foreign agent’ is widely used by authorities to suppress opposition sentiments. Citizens recognized as foreign agents are stripped of certain rights, such as being prohibited from engaging in political or educational activities. For violating these restrictions, individuals may face imprisonment for up to 5 years.
Journalist Artyom Kriger from SOTAvision was sent to a pre-trial detention center on charges of collaborating with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK)
In the morning, Kriger’s home was searched as part of an investigation into “participation in an extremist organization,” and he was taken in for questioning. By the evening, the journalist was brought to the Basmanny Court, which decided on a preventive measure—detention
The press service of the courts of general jurisdiction in Moscow reported 12 initiated cases. It was later revealed that the staff copied all the charges from the main case against the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).
Kriger is accused of collaborating with FBK. Another journalist from SOTAvision, Antonina Favorskaya, is being tried on the same charges.
A court sentenced a Ukrainian woman to 12 years in prison for playing an anti-war speech over loudspeakers and releasing balloons with a white-blue-white flag into the sky in Moscow
According to the investigation, on May 8, 2023, the Ukrainian woman placed speakers in the window of her apartment and played a loud recording of an anti-war speech and the Ukrainian national anthem. The authorities considered this as spreading “fake news” about the military, under sections “b” and “d” of part 2 of article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Russian journalist Antonina Favorskaya faces extremism charges for alleged links to Navalny, placed in pre-trial detention
The Basmanny Court in Moscow ordered the arrest of journalist Antonina Favorskaya, who was detained for supporting Alexei Navalny.
Favorskaya, a contributor to SOTAvision, faced persecution following the publication of an article titled “How the Court and FSIN Tortured Alexei Navalny.” She was charged with participating in an “extremist community.” Favorskaya believes she was targeted for her coverage of the court proceedings against Navalny and denies any wrongdoing.
Favorskaya was apprehended upon her release from a detention center, where she had served a 10-day administrative arrest following her detention at a rally in memory of Navalny. Journalists who had come to meet her were also taken to the police station.
The court session was held behind closed doors, but Favorskaya managed to disclose that law enforcement had seized four rubber ducks from her home. She was sentenced to two months in jail.
A donation of $51. What is known about the treason case against the 32-year-old Russian woman from Los Angeles?
According to law enforcement officers, since February 2022, the woman allegedly collected money “in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations,” which was then directed to the purchase of “tactical medical items, equipment, means of destruction, and ammunition” for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ksenia was detained on January 27 for “minor hooliganism” and arrested for 14 days. However, she never left the detention center – on February 7, she was detained already in a criminal case. The charge of “state treason” carries a punishment of 12 to 20 years of imprisonment.
A programmer who returned from the Czech Republic to Russia was sentenced to 7 years in prison for donating to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), participating in a picket, and distributing leaflets — Meduza
According to the publication, Alexey Malyarevsky’s persecution stemmed from a $150 donation to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), a solitary picket on Manezhnaya Square with a poster reading “Freedom to Navalny, freedom to political prisoners,” and distributing leaflets criticizing Moscow City Court judge Andrey Suvorov. This judge had previously sentenced Navalny to 19 years in prison on charges of “extremism.”
The accused stated that he received a template from certain individuals, printed leaflets on his printer, posted them on a building in Moscow, and took photographs.
According to Meduza, the programmer sent the donation to the FBK through the European online bank Revolut. How law enforcement learned about it is unknown.
The man was charged with “participation in an extremist community” and “financing extremism.”
This photograph shows 29-year-old Nadezhda Rossinskaya from Belgorod. She is facing 15 to 20 years in prison for helping Ukrainian refugees
After the start of the full-scale war, Nadezhda Rossinskaya founded a women’s volunteer movement to help civilians from Ukraine. She delivered humanitarian aid to the occupied territories of Ukraine and also helped Ukrainian refugees.
The young woman lived in Georgia for the past six months, but decided to return to Russia. On Thursday, February 1, Nadezhda Rossinskaya was detained by officers of the Federal Security Service
A criminal case was initiated against her on January 31 due to a publication announcing the collection of humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees. The investigation accuses her of inciting extremist activities.
Russian artist who staged anti-war protest in supermarket jailed for seven years
A Russian artist who replaced supermarket price tags with messages calling for an end to Moscow’s war in Ukraine was jailed for seven years on Thursday, a verdict her supporters called a disgraceful mockery of justice.
A court in St Petersburg delivered the ruling hours after the artist, 33-year-old Alexandra Skochilenko, had made a final statement to the court, asking the presiding judge to exercise wisdom and compassion and to set her free.
Skochilenko, who was found guilty of knowingly spreading false information about the Russian army, was banned from using the internet for the next three years in addition to the seven-year prison term.
Ilya Yashin was sentenced to 8.5 years in a penal colony last December for spreading false information about the army
In December of last year, the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow sentenced Yashin to eight and a half years in a general regime penal colony. The sentence was related to a case concerning the dissemination of fake information about the Russian army, under Article 207.3, Part 2, Item “d” of the Russian Criminal Code—public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Russian army motivated by political or other hatred.
