Fazyl Valiakhmetov is a political prisoner
A 70-year-old veteran of the Tatar national movement has been remanded in custody for posts on VK criticising the war against Ukraine
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Fazyl Valiakhmetov a political prisoner. Valiakhmetov is being prosecuted for repeatedly ‘discrediting’ the Russian armed forces and for ‘justifying terrorism on the internet’ for posts he made on the VK social media network. Valiakhmetov’s prosecution violates his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand his immediate release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
Who is Fazyl Valiakhmetov and what are the charges against him?
Fazyl Valiakhmetov, 70, is a veteran of the Tatar national movement, a local historian and journalist. He headed the museum and library dedicated to Hadi Atlasi, a prominent Tatar historian and Turkologist repressed in the Stalin era.
On 15 December 2023, Valiakhmetov was fined 30,000 roubles for posts he made on the VK social media site for the administrative-law offence of ‘discrediting’ the armed forces. Subsequently, he published on VK an account of what he told the police: ‘I believe that the special military operation is unjust because the Russian army, by entering Ukrainian territory and starting a war, is destroying cities and harming the local population, people are also dying. […] I could not refrain from expressing my thoughts and opinions on the special military operation.’
One year later, on 5 December 2024, Valiakhmetov’s home was searched. That same day, he was remanded in custody on criminal charges for his posts on VK. For his anti-war posts in the Tatar language, Valiakhmetov was charged with repeated ‘discrediting’ of the Russian armed forces (Article 280.3, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code) and for reposting an appeal by the Free Russia Legion addressed to Russian citizens he was charged with ‘justifying terrorism’ (Article 205.2, Part 2). If convicted, Valiakhmetov faces up to 10 and a half years’ imprisonment.
Why do we consider Fazyl Valiakhmetov a political prisoner?
The law on repeated ‘discrediting’ of the armed forces, under which Valiakhmetov is being prosecuted, was introduced to suppress dissent after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. In practice, this law serves to prohibit any criticism of the war or of the Russian authorities, in violation of the right to freedom of expression and also of the principle of legal certainty. This law should be rescinded, all related convictions quashed, and ongoing prosecutions dropped.
The offence of ‘justifying terrorism’ is also frequently used by the Russian authorities to prosecute dissenters, especially opponents of the war. The charges against Valiakhmetov under this law are unfounded and politically motivated.
The video appeal by the Free Russia Legion that Valiakhmetov reposted contained no calls to engage in terrorism. The designation of the Legion, an official unit of the Ukrainian armed forces, as a terrorist organisation is unlawful and unjustified. The Legion’s military actions cannot be classified as terrorism.
Remanding an elderly man, whose actions pose no danger to society, in custody for a prolonged period is both disproportionate and unacceptable.
A detailed description of Fazyl Valiakhmetov’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 Fazyl Valiakhmetov at the following address:
RU: 420111, Республика Татарстан, г. Казань, ул. Япеева, д. 16, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Республике Татарстан, Валиахметову Фазылу Абдулловичу 1955 г. р.
EN: Fazyl Abdullovich Valiakhmetov (born 1955), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Tatarstan, 16 Yapeeva Street, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, 420111, Russia.
You can also send an email using the ZT service (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.
