Andrei Etkeev is a political prisoner

He has been sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment for reposts about Russian crimes in Bucha

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Andrei Etkeev a political prisoner. He is being prosecuted under the article on ‘fakes’ about the Russian military for reposts on the Odnoklassniki social media network. The persecution of Etkeev violates his rights to freedom of speech and fair trial.

We demand the immediate release of Andrei Etkeev and an end to his criminal prosecution.

What is the case against Andrei Etkeev?

On 21 April 2023, it became known that a criminal case had been opened ‘against a 54-year-old resident of Kirov region Andrei E.’ under the article on the dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian military on grounds of political hatred (Article 207.3, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).

Later it turned out that the defendant’s name was Andrei Etkeev. He was accused of reposting news broadcasts and media publications about the Russian armed forces’ crimes, including killings of civilians in Bucha near Kyiv, on his page on Odnoklassniki.

Etkeev had been under house arrest since 28 April 2023. On 27 November, the Urzhumskiy District Court in Kirov region sentenced him to 5 years in a penal colony, after which he was taken into custody.

Why do we consider Etkeev a political prisoner?

Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code was created as a tool to suppress dissent after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. It effectively prohibits criticism of the war and the Russian authorities, which violates the right of citizens to freedom of expression. This article should be rescinded and all criminal cases under it closed.

Etkeev was clearly given a show trial for reposting news about killings of Ukrainian civilians by Russian soldiers, as evidence confirming the veracity of this information has not only been published in the media but also documented in reports by the OSCE and human rights defenders. A wide range of human rights violations committed by the Russian armed forces, including premeditated murder, torture, and rape, have been described in reports of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

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 a letter at the following address:

In Russian: 610004, г. Киров, ул. Мопра, д. 1., ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Кировской области, Эткееву Андрею Васильевичу, 1968 г. р.

In English: Andrei Vasilyevich Etkeev (born 1968), Remand Prison No. 1, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for Kirov region, 1 Mopra Street, Kirov 610004, Russia.

You can also send an electronic letter via Zonatelecom if you use Russian bank services and via PrisonMail if you use other banks.

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.

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