Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov is a political prisoner
A pensioner from St Petersburg has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony on a charge of collusion with foreigners
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov a political prisoner. He was convicted of collusion with a foreign state for sending a letter to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. Rabadanov’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov?
Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov is a former lawyer and staff member of the Military Academy. On 16 January 2024, he was detained and remanded in custody on a charge of attempted collusion with a foreign state in activities directed against the security of Russia (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). The charge was later reclassified as a completed offence under the same article.
According to the investigative authorities, Rabadanov contacted the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, offering to provide information and carry out actions that might contribute to the military defeat of the Russian Federation. Allegedly, FSB officers learned of this and all Rabadanov’s subsequent meetings and correspondence took place under surveillance.
On 23 April 2025, a court in St Petersburg sitting in camera sentenced Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov to five years in a general regime penal colony, with an additional one year’s probation on release.
Why do we consider Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov a political prisoner?
The article of the Criminal Code on ‘collusion’ became law in July 2022 and has since been yet another instrument used by the authorities against opponents of the regime. The article’s provisions do not meet the principle of legal certainty since they fail to define what constitutes ‘collusion.’ Essentially, the article criminalises any contact between Russian citizens and foreigners, enabling prosecution not for concrete actions but merely for an alleged intention to ‘assist’ in some unspecified ‘activity.’ The article should be rescinded, all related convictions quashed, and ongoing charges dropped.
The principal threat to the security of Russia is the war of aggression launched against Ukraine. The Ukrainian intelligence service and the Ukrainian armed forces are defending the country against this aggression. Consequently, even if Rabadanov had in fact corresponded with Ukrainian intelligence the threat such actions pose to Russian security is far from evident.
Moreover, the security forces made no secret of the fact that Rabadanov’s actions were entirely under their control. Most likely, from the very beginning his ‘contact with Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate’ was the result of an FSB provocation, as is often the case.
Moreover, Rabadanov did not carry out any actions within the framework of his alleged ‘collusion with a foreign state’ and therefore could not have been convicted of a completed offence. Even if one accepts that the actions in question might have posed some danger to society, sentencing an elderly man to a lengthy term of imprisonment merely for an uncertain ‘intention’ is manifestly disproportionate.
A detailed description of Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov’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 Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov at the following address:
RU: 196655, г. Санкт-Петербург, г. Колпино, ул. Колпинская, д. 9, стр. 1, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по г. Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области, Рабаданов Магомедгаджи Абакарович, 1955 г. р.
EN: Magomedgadzhi Abakarovich Rabadanov (born 1955), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service for the city of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, 9 (Building 1) Kolpinskaya Street, Kolpino, St. Petersburg, 196655, 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.
