Sergei Dudchenko and Nikolai Murnev are political prisoners
Four bikers from Yessentuki have been remanded in custody and tortured after explosives, weapons, and drugs were planted on them. One of the four died in detention; the remaining three face fabricated charges of preparing an act of terrorism
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Sergei Dudchenko and Nikolai Murnev political prisoners, and Vladimir Burmai and Rasim Bulgakov victims of unlawful politically motivated prosecutions. Dudchenko, Murnev, and Burmai stand charged with preparing an act of terrorism. Murnev and Bulgakov have already been convicted on charges of illegally obtaining drugs; Dudchenko has been convicted on charges of illegal possession of drugs, explosives, and ammunition, as well as sale of weapons. Another defendant in the case, Kirill Buzmakov, who was accused of preparing an act of terrorism and illegal possession of ammunition, died apparently as a result of torture. All the defendants have been subject to criminal prosecution on fabricated charges for expressing opposition to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Their criminal prosecutions violate their rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Dudchenko and Murnev and that all criminal charges be dropped against Dudchenko, Murnev, Burmai, and Bulgakov. We demand that the reports of torture of Dudchenko, Murnev, Bulgakov, and Buzmakov be investigated, and that the cause of Buzmakov’s death be determined and those responsible brought to justice.
What were the charges against the Stavropol bikers?
In October 2022, two waves of searches were carried out in Yessentuki against local bikers who had attracted the attention of the FSB after Sergei Dudchenko’s solo motorcycle ride with a Ukrainian flag and a series of Instagram posts against the war.
On 8 October, Sergei Dudchenko and Kirill Buzmakov were jailed under administrative law for disobeying the lawful demands of a police officer and petty hooliganism. The authorities gained access to their Telegram messages, which contained criticism of the Russian authorities and the war against Ukraine. On 12 October, searches were conducted at the homes of Nikolai Murnev and Rasim Bulgakov who were subsequently also jailed on administrative-law charges of minor hooliganism.
Criminal charges were then brought against all of them. Dudchenko was accused of possessing drugs, and Murnev and Bulgakov were accused of acquiring drugs (Article 228, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). Additionally, Dudchenko was charged with illegal possession of ammunition, explosives, and trafficking weapons (Article 222, Parts 1 & 7, in conjunction with Article 222.1, Part 1), while Buzmakov was charged with possession of ammunition (Article 222, Part 1).
In subsequent trials, Dudchenko was sentenced to seven years and six months in a general-regime penal colony, Buzmakov to three years in a low-security penal colony, and Bulgakov and Murnev were each given a three-year suspended sentence.
At the same time, Burmai, Dudchenko, Murnev and Buzmakov were also charged with preparing an act of terrorism (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 205, Part 2). The investigative authorities claimed the men had planned to set fire to a military recruitment centre in Pyatigorsk.
Burmai managed to flee Russia before his trial.
Dudchenko, Murnev, Bulgakov, and Buzmakov were tortured by law enforcement officers, who forced them to make confessions. According to Murnev, during the torture officers placed sticky tape on his hands, tape which was later found on bottles containing Molotov cocktails seized from his garage.
During his torture, Buzmakov had his teeth knocked out, his facial bone and lower jaw were broken. No medical assistance was provided to him in pre-trial detention, and as a result, he had to undergo surgery to remove his jaw and tongue in a hospital. Buzmakov lost the ability to speak. In March 2024, he was placed under house arrest. He died on 20 July.
The law enforcement authorities continued to exert pressure on Dudchenko and Murnev even after the case for preparing an act of terrorism had gone to trial.
Why do we consider the Stavropol bikers political prisoners?
We have studied the case files of the bikers and can confidently state that the evidence of their alleged guilt was fabricated and the investigation marred by gross violations of the defendants’ rights.
All the bikers were detained on similar administrative charges. The case files claim that drugs were found on the persons of Murnev and Bulgakov when they were searched, drugs which they had supposedly picked up from the street, while Dudchenko was said to have kept drugs in his jeans pocket. The searches of their homes, during which weapons, explosives, and ammunition were allegedly found, were conducted in the absence of the accused. In the case of Dudchenko, these items were supposedly found in an abandoned house that was accessible to outsiders.
The charges of preparing an act of terrorism were based on confessions obtained under torture. There is no evidence in their correspondence to suggest the defendants planned to set fire to a military recruitment office, and the investigative authorities focused mainly on their anti-government statements and criticisms of the war against Ukraine.
A more detailed description of the 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 Sergei Dudchenko and Nikolai Murnev at the following addresses:
In Russian: 357502, Ставропольский край, г. Пятигорск, ул. Теплосерная, д. 123, ФКУ СИЗО-2 УФСИН России по Ставропольскому краю, Дудченко Сергею Алексеевичу 1987 г. р.
344064, г. Ростов-на-Дону, ул. Тоннельная, д. 4, ФКУ СИЗО-5 ГУФСИН России по Ростовской области, Мурневу Николаю Сергеевичу 1988 г. р.
In English: Sergei Alekseevich Dudchenko (born 1987), Remand Centre No. 2 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Stavropol Krai, 123 Teplosernaya Street, Pyatigorsk, Stavropol Krai, 357502, Russia.
Nikolai Sergeevich Murnev (born 1988), Remand Centre No. 5 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Rostov Oblast, 4 Tonnelnaya Street, Rostov-on-Don, 344064, Russia.
You can also send electronic mail via ZT (for payments with Russian bank cards), OVD-Info or Memorial-France (free of charge).
For information on how to further help Nikolai Murnev and Sergei Dudchenko, you can read their support group Telegram channel.
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.
