OVD-Info

 14 December 2024 

OVD-Info is a Russian civil society organisation that monitors politically motivated arrests and prosecutions in Russia. Each week OVD-Info publishes a bulletin with the latest news, which is translated here. To receive the mailing in Russian, visit here.

News

Imprisoned Aleksei Navalny’s conversations with his lawyers were secretly filmed; defendants in prosecutions for ‘fake news’ about the Russian military or discrediting of, the Russian military are now liable to be added to register of ‘terrorists and extremists’; and two political prisoners have been placed in punishment cells

Prison officers recorded Aleksei Navalny’s conversations with his lawyers using a hidden camera. Navalny’s widow, Julia, was sent these recordings from Penal Colony No. 2 in Vladimir region (east of Moscow) by an anonymous source. These conversations were primarily between Navalny and his lawyers Olga Mikhailova, Vadim Kobzev and Aleksei Liptser. One of the cameras was fitted in the ceiling of the room where these meetings took place, and was also able, owing to its position, to show what Navalny wrote on paper. ‘You watched Venom 2?’ Navalny casually asked the lawyers in one video. Navalny died in a penal colony in the far northern town of Kharp on 16 February, and the government has refused to conduct an investigation into his death. 

• Why is this important? Julia Navalny pointed out that it is illegal for prison authorities to record meetings between prisoners and legal representatives, owing to these conversations’ status as legally protected. But rather than obliging prison staff to observe their responsibilities, the lawyers are now being prosecuted; Vadim Kobzev, Aleksei Liptser and Igor Sergunin stand charged with participation in an ‘extremist organisation’ and are being tried in a closed-session court. ‘They are being tried for simply doing the work expected of any defence lawyer: preparing a case for the prisoner’s defence, discussing prison conditions, writing complaints and sending them to court,’ Julia Navalnaya stated. 

Duma passes a bill expanding legal grounds for addition to register of ‘terrorists and extremists’ When this law comes into effect, anyone convicted, accused or suspected of offences allegedly motivated by hatred will be included on the register. This includes, amongst other offences, spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army and calling for actions that harm Russian state security. In addition, the register will include anyone accused of discrediting the Russian army, repeated propaganda or display of banned insignia, calls to violate the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation or acts of genocide.  

• Why do I need to know this? People finding their names added to this register are forbidden from spending more than a sum of 10,000 roubles (£76 pounds) a month on themselves and the same amount on a member of their family who had no income of their own. They are forbidden from, amongst other things, teaching children or buying or selling property. More and more people are being affected by these restrictions, including those facing politically motivated prosecutions: Any crime can be interpreted as being motivated by hatred or political or religious ideology. You can read here more about how people cope with being officially declared an extremist. 

Two defendants in politically motivated case placed in solitary confinement in pre-trial detention Sergei Mikhailov, a journalist from Altai region sentenced to eight years for spreading ‘fake news’ abou the war, was placed in a punishment cell for five days after practising breathing exercises after being beaten. This is the second time that he has been placed in solitary confinement, and he fears he might not be released on parole. The same punishment was given to Sergei Veselev, a blogger from the town of Shuya near Moscow, who is being prosecuted on several politically motivated charges. He complained that toilet paper and bedding were removed from his cell, which was also cold. 

• Why is this important? In pre-trial detention centres, people can be sent to solitary confinement for up to ten days for a range of offences. There, the prisoner is not allowed to send letters, have visitors, receive parcels, watch TV, spend money from personal bank accounts or lie on the bed in the daytime. Those facing or convicted of politically motivated charges are often placed in punishment cells in remand prisons and penal colonies, even for the most minute violation of the strict rules. The same punishments would not be given to other prisoners. 

Features

 ‘Anya, we are being searched!’: St Petersburg couple leave Russia and watch the searching of their flat via CCTV. The married couple – Artem and Anna Guselnikov – are almost the same age. He is 32 and she is 31. When the war in Ukraine started, they left their jobs, sold their flat and used donations to run anti-war campaigns in Russian cities. In October, Artem and Anna left Russia temporarily. Two weeks later, their flat was searched after they were reported to the authorities by a prolific anti-opposition activist by the name of Timur Bulatov. They watched the searching of their flat in real time; Artem had put up cameras in the flat shortly before they left. They now know they cannot go back to Russia, but they still plan on continuing their anti-war activities. We tell their story. Continue reading

For seven years we have been sending out weekly our Weekly Bulletin [Takaya Nedelya] covering stories of political repression and its victims, and to ask why this is going on in Russia. We have lived through terrible times, analysed events and had joy at the rare (and therefore even more valuable) instances of good news. We understand that knowledge keeps people safe, and our collective efforts do have an impact. Times and circumstances change, and so must we: our Weekly Bulletin is constantly working towards its goals in order to achieve change. The last weekly post in the usual format will be coming out at the end of December. This will be followed by a transition period when we will be sending out content less frequently. But be sure we will not be saying goodbye! We would like to continue to keep in touch with you, so we will be asking in our anonymous survey (link below) how we can continue to be supportive and engaging in future. Or you can simply answer this article with your name, your advice, and your feedback. We will read any comments you may have. Do survey 

Translated by Oscar Seecharan