Anton Galeta is a political prisoner
A civil servant from Perm has been sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony on charges of preparing to commit an act of terrorism, preparing to commit treason, and justifying terrorism
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Anton Galeta a political prisoner. Galeta was convicted on charges of preparing to commit an act of terrorism, preparing to commit treason, and justifying terrorism. Galeta’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand Galeta’s immediate release and that his case be reheard in a fair trial.
What were the charges against Anton Galeta?
Anton Galeta worked as head of technical services and building maintenance at a local government building in Perm. On 11 October 2022 he was arrested by FSB officers on suspicion of preparing to commit a terrorist act (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 205, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, Galeta had contacted Ukrainian entities in order to emigrate to Ukraine and was allegedly instructed to set fire to, or blow up, a government facility in exchange for assistance. Galeta chose a car park at a traffic police depot, for which purpose he purchased materials to make Molotov cocktails which he then hid in an abandoned building. Soon afterwards, he noticed he was under surveillance and decided to abandon the plan. However, he was arrested.
In June 2023, two further charges were brought against Galeta: of preparing to commit treason (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 275) for preparing to set fire to the same car park and of justifying terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2) for an online comment.
On 22 March 2024 Galeta was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, of which four years are to be served in a cell‑type prison and the rest in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Galeta a political prisoner?
We believe there are serious grounds to consider the case against Galeta a provocation by the security services. This is because all his communication with supposed Ukrainian handlers was in fact communication with FSB officers. When Galeta realised he was under surveillance and wrote to his ‘curator’ he would not proceed with the arson, the FSB agents realised there was no point in further surveillance and chose to arrest him.
Classification of the planned arson attempt as ‘preparing to commit a terrorist act’ was politically motivated. The investigative authorities failed to prove intent to terrorise or endanger lives, nor was the feasibility of the act proven. The charge of preparing treason is also dubious, since Galeta was likely a victim of a provocation by the law enforcement authorities and himself abandoned the idea of committing arson. The charge of justification of terrorism was also unfounded since Galeta’s comment contained no support for violence, but on the contrary referred only to the destruction of military recruitment offices on grounds of saving human life and humanistic principles.
The two additional charges were laid against Galeta more than eight months after he was detained, although the authorities had all the ‘evidence’ at the time of his arrest. Most likely, the additional charges were brought against Galeta in retaliation for his refusal to plead guilty and for accusing the FSB of torture, as well as to compensate for a lack of evidence.
A detailed description of Anton Galeta’s case and of our position 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, their views, statements, or actions
How can you help?
You can write to Anton Galeta at the following address:
RU: 457670, Челябинская область, г. Верхнеуральск, ул. Северная, д. 1, ФКУ Т ГУФСИН России по Челябинской области, Галэта Антон Александрович 1982 г. р.
EN: Anton Aleksandrovich Galeta (born 1982), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Chelyabinsk Oblast, 1 Severnaya Street, Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, 457670, Russia.
You can also send an email using ZT (for payment with all bank cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
