Mykola Onuk is a political prisoner

The Crimean resident was arrested for putting up ‘Crimea is Ukraine’ posters; explosives were planted on him and he was sentenced to five years in a penal colony

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, based on international standards, considers Mykola Onuk a political prisoner. Onuk has been convicted of vandalism and desecrating the Russian coat of arms for putting up posters, along with a fabricated charge of possessing explosives. Onuk’s prosecution and conviction have violated his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Mykola Onuk and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.

What were the charges against Mykola Onuk?

On the night of 7 July 2023, posters were put up in Simferopol on buildings at the railway station, the Supreme Court of Crimea, bus stops, and on a fence. The posters depicted a double-headed eagle pierced by a blue and yellow sword, with the words ‘Crimea is Ukraine’ in Ukrainian. Law enforcement agents trawling through CC TV footage determined the person responsible was Mykola Onuk.

On the evening of 1 August, officers from the anti-extremism police unit (‘Centre E’) burst into Onuk’s home. They conducted an unlawful search under the guise of an ‘inspection of the premises.’ Onuk was subsequently jailed on an administrative charge of disobeying the police. This was immediately followed by a second administrative-law jail term, allegedly for displaying extremist symbols.

While serving his second jail term, on 25 August 2023, Onuk was remanded in custody on a criminal charge of transporting and possessing explosives (Article 222.1, Part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code) that had allegedly been found during the search of his home. Soon after, two more charges related to the posters were laid against him: desecrating the Russian coat of arms (Article 329) and vandalism (Article 214, Part 2).

On 16 May 2024, Onuk was convicted on all charges and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Why do we consider Onuk a political prisoner?

There was no evidence to prove Mykola Onuk was in possession of explosives. The investigative authorities provided a detailed description of how Onuk allegedly received the explosive device, yet at the same time made no attempt to identify the person who allegedly gave it to him. There is no proof that Onuk’s fingerprints were on the explosives. It is also significant that a criminal investigation on such a serious charge was only opened nearly one month after the explosives were allegedly found.

Furthermore, the search was conducted unlawfully. Formally an ‘inspection of the premises’ such as that conducted of Onuk’s home does not permit the seizure of items without the owner’s consent. During the search, force was used against Onuk and his lawyer was absent.

Evidently, the authorities required Onuk’s repeated jailing on administrative-law charges in order to facilitate the fabrication of evidence against him for possessing explosives. The real reason for Onuk’s prosecution was his distribution of posters opposing the annexation of Crimea.

Putting up posters is not vandalism: they caused no damage to buildings and did not ‘desecrate’ them. As for the charge of desecrating the coat of arms, state symbols are often used in campaigning materials and such depictions cannot be grounds for criminal prosecution.

A detailed description of Mykola Onuk’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 Mykola Onuk at the following address:

In Russian: 298330, Республика Крым, г. Керчь, ул. Индустриальное шоссе, 17, ФКУ ИК-2 УФСИН России по Республике Крым и г. Севастополь, Онуку Николаю Николаевичу 1988 г. р.

In English: Mykola Mykolayovych Onuk (born 1988), Penal Colony No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, 17 Industrialnoe Shosse, Kerch, Crimea, 298330, Russia.

We respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. However, to ensure that letters reach their intended recipients in occupied territories, the addresses must be formatted according to Russian regulations.

You can also use the ZT service (payment via Russian bank cards), OVD-Info or Memorial-France (free of charge).

You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.