Vladimir Mironov, a postgraduate student from St. Petersburg, is a political prisoner

He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for writing anti-war slogans on the walls of a military recruitment centre and breaking two windows

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Vladimir Mironov a political prisoner. The criminal charges against Vladimir Mironov are for his political views and are intended to force critics of Russia’s authorities to end their civic activity and intimidate Russian society in general.

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

What is the case against Vladimir Mironov?

According to the Investigative Committee, on 26 February 2023 the 25-year-old scientist, a postgraduate student at the Alferovsky University in St. Petersburg, struck and broke the windows of a military recruitment office twice with an unknown object. For this, a criminal case was opened against him under Article 213, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code, for ‘hooliganism with use of weapons.’ At the same time, he allegedly ‘discredited’ the army by writing on the wall of the building ‘No war,’ ‘Stop the killing’ and ‘How many people can you kill’ (Article 280.3, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). Law enforcement officers tracked Mironov down using CCTV cameras and detained him at his place of residence the next day.

Why do we consider Vladimir Mironov a political prisoner?

We believe Mironov’s actions do not constitute hooliganism. Moreover, slogans against war and killings do not discredit the army.

Article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code penalises hooliganism as a gross violation of public order and one that expresses a clear disrespect for society. The motive for Mironov’s actions was not hooliganism. On the contrary, his respect for society is evidenced by his declared civic stance, despite the obvious risks: his anti-war protest and the desire to stop conscription. Even more surprising is the qualification of Mironov’s actions under Article 213, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code, as hooliganism committed with the use of weapons or objects used as weapons. In the commission of hooliganism, the Russian Supreme Court considers any material objects which can cause harm to human health as ‘objects used as weapons’. Vladimir Mironov did not attack people, did not cause harm to their health, and the object with which he allegedly struck the windows of the military enlistment office cannot be considered a weapon.

As for the charge under Article 280.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, we have repeatedly stated elsewhere that this article contradicts both the Russian Constitution and Russia’s international obligations, as well as fundamental principles of law. Among other defects, Article 280.3 makes the existence of a criminal offence dependent on previous administrative liability, which contradicts the fundamental principle of just law that no one can be held liable for the same offence twice.

In the case of Vladimir Mironov, the charges are even more absurd because the judicial decision to impose an administrative penalty on him has not yet entered into force. This means Mironov cannot be considered to have been convicted of an offence under administrative law.

A detailed description of the case and the position of the Human Rights Project are 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?

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