URGENT ACTION

RUSSIA, RELEASE ALEKSEI GORINOV!

Russian authorities have been keeping local opposition politician Aleksei Gorinov behind bars for expressing his critical views of the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine. After two years into his arbitrary sentence under the war censorship laws, Aleksei Gorinov is facing a new trial on the accusation of “justification of terrorism,” another charge that has been used to silence dissent in Russia. His health is frail. Russia should drop all charges and release Aleksei Gorinov immediately and unconditionally.

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

To: Igor Viktorovich Krasnov
Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Office of the Prosecutor General
15a Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street
Moscow, 125993
Russian Federation

Dear Prosecutor General,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the case of Aleksei Gorinov, a former municipal councillor of the Krasnoselsky District in Moscow, who is serving seven years in prison, and is now facing an additional charge for merely exercising his right to freedom of expression. 

In July 2022, Aleksei Gorinov was convicted under Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code for referring to the conflict in Ukraine as a “war” and discussing the deaths of children resulting from it. His imprisonment under the “war censorship laws” (Articles 207.3 and 280.3 of the Criminal Code) highlights the suppression of freedom of expression and the criminalization of dissent in Russia. 

In addition, while serving his sentence, Aleksei Gorinov was accused of “justification of terrorism” for sharing his views about the war with another prisoner. I am concerned that merely sharing his opinion, which didn’t cause anyone’s harm, led to serious charges and may result in a longer prison sentence and further violate Aleksei Gorinov’s rights. 

Furthermore, Aleksei Gorinov’s health has significantly deteriorated while in detention. He has been repeatedly placed in a penal cell for minor infractions and denied adequate medical care, despite suffering from respiratory issues exacerbated by a previous lung surgery. 

I urge you to take all necessary steps in order to drop the charges against Aleksei Gorinov and overturn his previous conviction, as well as release him immediately and unconditionally. I also call on you to reconsider the application of the war censorship laws and the anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation, which are being used to violate the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It is imperative that Russia upholds its international human rights obligations and releases individuals imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Additional information
Aleksei Gorinov was the first person to receive a prison sentence for spreading “false information” about Russia’s Armed Forces (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) simply for calling the “special military operation” in Ukraine – “a war” and stating that children were dying in it. On 8 July 2022, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow sentenced the municipal councillor of the Krasnoselsky District, to seven years in prison. Aleksei Gorinov was indicted for a statement he had made about Russian aggression in Ukraine during a council meeting on 15 March. He spoke about the deaths of Ukrainian children resulting from the war, which the Russian authorities continue to describe as a “special military operation.” He was exercising his right to freedom of expression. 
While in detention, Aleksei Gorinov has been repeatedly placed in SHIZO (penal cell) for alleged minor violations of prison rules. In detention, he fell ill due to respiratory problems, exacerbated by the fact that a part of his lung had been removed several years earlier. Prison authorities denied him adequate health care and instead forced him to clear snow outside.
On 9 December 2023, more than 240 health professionals sent an open letter to President Vladimir Putin raising concern over Aleksei Gorinov’s health and calling for him to be provided with the necessary healthcare. Later in December, he was transferred to a prison hospital where he was held for more than three months.
In April 2024, after being sent back from prison hospital to a penal colony in Vladimir, Aleksei Gorinov reported that the prison authorities had placed him under a suicide and self-harm watch. In a message, Gorinov assures that he "would never voluntarily end his life" as he perceives "life as a gift from the Universe". He further underlines that he still has plans and important matters to do. He ends his message with "Please keep this in mind in case something happens to me suddenly." He also sent a complaint to the court concerning how the prison guards used to wake him up during the night and tried to pressure him. In the end of April, after being transferred to Vladimir pretrial detention centre, he was no longer bothered during the night. 
On 13 September 2023, the Russian authorities opened a new investigation against Aleksei Gorinov accusing him of “justification of terrorism” for discussing an alleged Ukrainian attack on a bridge in Crimea, and the Azov Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (which has been designated as a “terrorist organization” in Russia). The preliminary hearings under this charge are expected to start on 19 November 2024.
Articles 207.3 and 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation are also known as the “war censorship laws”. Introduced in March 2022, they criminalize criticism of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and of war crimes committed by Russian forces, as “fakes” and “discreditation” of the Russian Armed Forces and carry a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. In October 2024, Amnesty International shared with the Russian authorities, that it collected 330,000 signatures worldwide demanding that the Russian authorities repeal its war censorship laws, and releases everyone imprisoned solely for criticising the war in Ukraine.
In February 2024 Amnesty International documented the disturbing escalation in the abuse of vague anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation in Russia since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds of individuals were convicted under “justification of terrorism” charges for merely discussing or expressing sympathy towards specific actions or entities arbitrarily designated as “terrorist” by the Russian authorities. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, expressions of sympathy for Ukraine – such as displaying contentment about its military successes or support for the Ukrainian military units consisting of Russian volunteers – became enough for such persecutions. Amnesty International is calling for Russia to review its anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation and to bring it in line with Russia’s international human rights obligations and to ensure that it cannot be used to criminalize and prosecute peaceful dissent or otherwise violate the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and other human rights. Amnesty is also calling for the Russian authorities to immediately acquit, or drop, unfounded terrorism and extremism related charges against every person arbitrarily convicted or prosecuted under these charges, and release them unless they are charged with an internationally recognizable offence.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: Russian and English. 
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 31 December 2024 
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PRONOUN: Aleksei Gorinov (he/his/him)

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: AlekseiGorinovUA 
Additional targets

His Excellency Mr Andrei Kelin
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the Russian Federation (Main Building)
6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP
Phone: 020 7229 6412
Fax: 020 7727 8625 
Email: kanc@rusemb.org.uk 
Web: www.rusemb.org.uk 
Salutation: Your Excellency