October 20, 2026, 8:57 AMRSSRU

Eduard Ataev

ImprisonedChecked October 18, 2026

Eduard Ataev, born 1970, Dagestan. Charges: Article 222 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition); Article 222.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment or bearing of explosive substances…); Article 228 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Significant drug trafficking); “Eduard Ataev's case on possession of weapons, explosives and drugs”. Sentence (November 22, 2023): 6 years 5 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 1, 2022; place of detention: Penal colony No. 7, Dagestan. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, August 5, 2024.

In brief

Dagestan · Khasavyurt · Politicians · Cases against Navalny/ACF supporters

Sentence

6 years 5 months

deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony

Verdict November 22, 2023

Upheld October 31, 2024

Charges

Full wording of the charges

The investigation alleges that on 26 March 2022 Ataev's home was searched because an officer of the police department in Khasavyurt "in the course of operational-search measures received information from trusted persons that" Ataev might be involved in a crime and that he might be storing narcotic substances at his place of residence. During the search Ataev was found in possession of a pistol, a grenade and marijuana.

Latest event

October 31, 2024 — appeal

The court upheld the verdict.

Checked October 18, 2026 · no changes since October 15

Recognition by rights defenders

Timeline

  1. · Appeal ruling

    upheld

  2. · Recognised as a political prisoner

    Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners

  3. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 6 years 5 months

  4. · Persecution begins

    Eduard Ataev's case on possession of weapons, explosives and drugs

  5. · Preventive measure: pre-trial detention

    Pre-trial Detention Centre №3 (SIZO-3) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Dagestan

Criminal case

Eduard Ataev's case on possession of weapons, explosives and drugs

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Write a letter

Facility: Penal colony No. 7, Dagestan

Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)

367041, пос. Ново- Тюбе, Дагестан, Кумторкалинский р-н, ФКУ «ИК № 7 УФСИН России по Республике Дагестан», Атаев Эдуард Абдуллаевич, 1970 г.р.

Address checked October 18, 2026

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

Former coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in Makhachkala, previously head of the Dagestan branch of the People's Freedom Party. In January 2023, this branch was liquidated on the suit of the Ministry of Justice. Navalny's supporters have been trying to open a headquarters in Dagestan since February 2021. In April of the same year, Eduard Ataev, the then coordinator of the headquarters, was arrested for 10 days. In fact, the security forces kidnapped the activist, as well as another member of the headquarters Murad Manapov. The latter said that after his arrest he was threatened with torture and demanded a report on the plans of the headquarters. In late March 2022, Atayev was sent to detention on a case of possession of weapons, explosives and drugs. He later reported that he was tortured during his detention: a bag was put over his head, wrapped with duct tape, and then objects similar to a pistol handle and a grenade were forcibly placed in his hands. While in the pre-trial detention centre, Ataev reported violations of his rights: he was not given correspondence. In September 2023, the court briefly suspended the case due to Ataev's allegations of torture during detention. On 22 November 2023, Ataev was sentenced to six years and five months in a general regime colony.

All fields of the record
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Sources (1)

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