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Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 16 individuals fighting for freedom and justice

Documented Cases.

Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 16 individuals fighting for freedom and justice across Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Central Asia.

Country

Urgency

Alexei Katseval

Alexei Katseval is facing charges for allegedly publishing an extremist text on a Telegram channel that criticized Russian servicemen. His current location is unknown.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Social media

Vasilii Surin

Vasilii Surin was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for justifying terrorism and calling for extremism. The charges stem from his online approval of the Crimean bridge bombing and alleged calls for violence on ethnic grounds.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Activism

Yuri Aleksandrovich Avsenev

Yuri Avsenev, a political activist from Voronezh, was charged with public calls for extremist activity online. He was released from criminal responsibility and ordered to undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment by the court.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Sergei Krivosheev

Sergei Krivosheev was sentenced to ten months of forced labor for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. He is also prohibited from administering websites and social media groups for the duration of his sentence.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Social media

Evgeny Karpov

Evgeny Karpov, a former coordinator of Alexei Navalny's headquarters in Voronezh, is accused of repeatedly discrediting the RF Armed Forces. He left Russia and has been placed on a wanted list and designated as a "foreign agent."

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Ivan Bogdel

Ivan Bogdel, a stylist and club owner, is accused of organizing and participating in the activities of an extremist organization due to his alleged affiliation with the banned "International LGBT Movement". He was initially placed under house arrest, but it was changed to pre-trial detention.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Religious

Khristoliub Bozhii Vegan

Khristoliub Vegan, a YouTube blogger, was sentenced to three years in a penal colony for rehabilitation of Nazism and insulting religious feelings. The charges stem from videos he posted criticizing Soviet soldiers and condemning the Quran.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Pavlovsk, Voronezh Oblast

Social media

Evgeny Tronev

Evgeny Tronev was sentenced to probation and compulsory psychiatric observation for reposting "discrediting" content online. The initial suspended sentence was later replaced with a fine.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh region, Russia

political

Alexander Lunin

Former military serviceman Alexander Lunin was detained for 11 days on administrative charges after demanding a meeting with Vladimir Putin and threatening an army revolt. His home was searched by police.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Artem Esikov

Artem Esikov, a left-wing activist and student in Voronezh, was detained after holding a picket in support of Venezuela. He is accused of violating the rules of holding a rally. The arrest is believed to be related to a picket held in support of the Venezuelan people after the alleged kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro by American military.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh region, Lipetsk region

Ethnic persecution

Parents of Crimean Tatars

The parents of arrested Crimean Tatar women (Esma Nimetulaeva, Elviza Alieva, Nasiba Saidova, and Fevzie Osmanova) were detained multiple times while traveling to Moscow to meet with the Commissioner for Human Rights. They were stopped in Voronezh and Lipetsk regions and subjected to questioning and document checks.

HEALTH RISK INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Social media

Khristoliub Bozhii Vegan

A YouTube blogger from Voronezh was sentenced to three years in prison for videos criticizing the Soviet military and the Quran. After being detained again for an anti-war poster, he died in custody in April 2026, reportedly by hanging in a disciplinary cell.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Novovoronezh, Voronezh region

Social media

Sergei Anatolyevich Krivosheev

Sergei Krivosheev was sentenced to 10 months of forced labor for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. His prosecution stemmed from a social media post criticizing the military, and he had previously been fined for a similar offense.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Korshevo, Voronezh region

Social media

Vegan Hristolyub Bozhiy

Vegan Hristolyub Bozhiy, a videoblogger from the Voronezh region, was sentenced to 3 years in a penal colony for spreading false information about the USSR during WWII, insulting veterans, and insulting religious feelings. He was initially detained in January 2023 and is currently in custody.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Social media

Andrei Biryukov

Andrei Biryukov was imprisoned for social media posts, initially sentenced to 3.5 years for extremism and justification of terrorism related to VKontakte publications, including statements about the war in Ukraine. After a new case was opened following his appeal, his total sentence was increased to six years.

HEALTH RISK

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast

Social media

Nina Belyaeva

Nina Belyaeva, a former deputy, is being prosecuted for spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces and publicly justifying terrorism. The charges stem from statements made at a district council meeting and an interview with a Ukrainian blogger.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

on trial