Alexander Atamanov
Alexander Atamanov, born 1989, Stavropol Krai. Charges: Article 228 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal handling of drugs on a large scale); Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of Alexander Atamanov”. Sentence (January 11, 2022): 4 years and 10 months of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 4, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, May 28, 2020.
In brief
Stavropol Krai · Pyatigorsk · Drivers · Extremism cases
Sentence
4 years 10 months
4 years and 10 months of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year of restriction of liberty
First instance, July 22, 2020: 5 years
Charges
- Article 228 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal handling of drugs on a large scale
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
On 23rd of December 2018, between 4 and 5 p.m., he "held conversations" with passers-by near the Kolos restaurant in the city of Pyatigorsk, chanted slogans, displayed and handed out leaflets calling to join the Right Sector movement; he kept narcotic substances with him, which he tried to get rid of when he was being detained.
Latest event
January 1, 2024 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, June 4, 2020
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 28, 2020
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed · 4 years 10 months
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №2 (SIZO-2) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Stavropol Krai
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
· Persecution begins
The case of Alexander Atamanov
Criminal case
The case of Alexander Atamanov
Details and sources
Full summary
On 21st of March, 2019 he was detained on the street on charges of foul language. During the search, Atamanov was found in possession of Right Sector leaflets, 2.7 grams of a substance containing heroin, 6-monoacetylmorphine and acetylcodeine, as well as two rolls of marijuana. The next day he was arrested for two days. On 23rd of March a criminal case for drug possession was initiated, upon expiry of the administrative arrest he was detained and on 25th of March he was taken into custody by court decision. In May, criminal charges of enganing in recruitment to an extremist organisation were also brought against Atamanov. Atamanov pressed charges for drug planting and threats of physical violence, but they were rejected by the court. The investigation pertaining to those charges pressed by Artamonov waw conducted by that same investigator who was in charge of the criminal case against Artamonov.
Atamanov's wife claims that they repeatedly tried to extort confessions from him and threatened to infect him with HIV and hepatitis, to plant drugs on his wife, and send his son to an orphanage. According to her, he was beaten with sticks in the pre-trial detention centre.
On 23rd of July 2020, Atamanov was sentenced to five years in a general regime colony. On 24th of September, the appeal court reduced the sentence by two months. On 12th of November, 2021 the court of cassation reversed the decision and sent the case for review to the court of appeal, which on 12th of January, 2022 sentenced Artamonov to four years and ten months in a general regime colony.
Presumably, he was released in January 2024.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 228 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.