Ilya Kutsev is a political prisoner
He has been sentenced to seven years in a strict-regime penal colony for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ilya Kutsev a political prisoner. Kutsev has been convicted on a charge of attempting to participate in an illegal armed group on the territory of a foreign state, for purposes contrary to the interests of Russia, for attempting to join the Free Russia Legion. The criminal prosecution and conviction of Kutsev violate his right to a fair trial. We demand that Ilya Kutsev’s conviction be quashed and all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Ilya Kutsev?
Ilya Kutsev was detained on 9 May 2022 in Bryansk Oblast, near the border with Belarus, allegedly for petty hooliganism. After serving a ten-day jail sentence under administrative law, he was remanded in custody on a criminal charge of attempting to participate in an illegal armed group on the territory of a foreign state, for purposes contrary to Russia’s interests (Article 30, Part 3, of the Russian Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 208, Part 2).
According to the investigative authorities, Kutsev planned to join the Free Russia Legion in Ukraine. He travelled by train to Minsk with his brother, to whom he had not revealed his intentions. As his brother had debts, the two men were prevented from crossing the border into Belarus and were forced to leave the train. Kutsev allegedly then planned to continue his journey to Belarus alone, in order subsequently to enter Ukraine, but he was detained by the FSB.
On 13 January 2023, Kutsev was sentenced to seven years in a strict-regime penal colony, with 18 months’ subsequent probation.
Why do we consider Kutsev a political prisoner?
We are not able to fully assess the validity of the charges brought against Ilya Kutsev. However, even if he had genuinely intended to join the Free Russia Legion in Ukraine, he should not have been subjected to criminal prosecution. The Free Russia Legion is not an illegal armed group; it is part of the Ukrainian armed forces. We believe that joining the Legion does not contradict Russia’s interests. It is the unlawful decision of the Russian leadership to invade Ukraine that is truly at odds with its own interests.
Moreover, the circumstances surrounding Kutsev’s detention raise serious concerns. Before criminal charges were brought against him, he spent ten days in jail, apparently on a fabricated charge under administrative law. Most likely, the investigative authorities used this period of detention to prepare for Kutsev’s criminal prosecution in the absence of real evidence – a tactic that is common in such cases.
A more detailed description of Ilya Kutsev’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 a letter to Ilya Kutsev at the following address:
In Russian: 399783, Липецкая область, г. Елец, ул. Пролетарская, д. 1Б, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Липецкой области, Куцеву Илье Владимировичу (1993 г.р.)
In English: Ilya Vladimirovich Kutsev (born 1993), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Lipetsk Oblast, 1B Proletarskaya Street, Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, 399783, Russia.
You can also send an email via ZT services (for payment with Russian 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 recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
