Vladlen Menshikov is a political prisoner
An electrician from Sverdlovsk Oblast has been sentenced to 14 years in a strict regime penal colony for laying a jump wire on railway tracks and for graffiti
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Vladlen Menshikov a political prisoner. Menshikov was convicted on criminal charges of collusion with a foreign organisation, publicly justifying terrorism, and attempting to carry out a terrorist act, for laying a jump wire across railway tracks and for spray-painting graffiti. Menshikov’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand his immediate release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Vladlen Menshikov?
Vladlen Menshikov was detained on 27 September 2022 at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg as he was about to fly to Belarus. According to the FSB, a month earlier he had laid a jump wire across railway tracks in Sverdlovsk Oblast. The security services initially treated this as attempted sabotage (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 281, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code), but later reclassified the alleged offence as attempted terrorism (Article 30, Part 3, in conjunction with Article 205, Part 1). The jump wire, however, was incorrectly installed and caused no harm.
Menshikov was also accused of corresponding with the Free Russia Legion, which was classified as ‘collusion with a foreign organisation’ (Article 275.1, Part 1). He was also charged with justifying terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 1) for graffiti that included slogans such as ‘AZOV UKRAINIAN ARMY LEGION HEROES’ and ‘NO TO WAR.’
After his arrest, the security services released a video of Menshikov making a confession. He later retracted these statements.
On 15 April 2024, a military court sentenced Vladlen Menshikov to 14 years’ imprisonment, of which the first four years are to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Menshikov a political prisoner?
The case against Menshikov was based on testimony he gave without a lawyer. His arrest was formalised long after his actual detention; items claimed as evidence in the case were in the authorities’ possession before they were officially seized.
After meeting with a lawyer, Menshikov retracted his confession. Subsequently, he repeatedly stated that he had been forced to incriminate himself and complained of being held in torturous conditions.
The investigative authorities did not present convincing evidence of Vladlen Menshikov’s guilt. The photographs of the graffiti and jump wire, which Menshikov allegedly sent to a ‘handler’ from the Free Russia Legion, were found on a ProtonMail account to which Menshikov claims he had no access.
There was no evidence Menshikov was present at the locations where the graffiti appeared, or the jump wire was laid. Moreover, contradictions in witness statements and case materials made it impossible to reliably determine even the day or location of the events.
At the same time, even if correctly installed, the jump wire would only have caused the signal to switch to red — something that cannot be considered an act of terrorism. Furthermore, anti-war graffiti and references to units of the Ukrainian armed forces do not constitute justification of terrorism.
The article of the Russian Criminal Code on ‘collusion’ with a foreign state violates the principle of legal certainty. It must be rescinded, all related convictions quashed, and ongoing charges dropped.
A detailed description of Vladlen Menshikov’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 Vladlen Menshikov at the following address:
Russian: 620019, г. Екатеринбург, ул. Репина, 4, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области, Меньшикову Владлену Алексеевичу 1993 г. р.
English: Vladlen Alekseevich Menshikov (born 1993), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Sverdlovsk Oblast, 4 Repina Street, Yekaterinburg, 620019, Russia.
You can also email via ZT (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 on our website.
