Andrei Balin
Andrei Balin, born 1974, Samara Oblast. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); “The case of "fakes" about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Toliatti”. Sentence (March 17, 2023): 7 years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition to administer websites for 4 years. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 17, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 10, Samara Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, March 30, 2023.
In brief
Samara Oblast · Tolyatti · Politicians, Entrepreneurs · Anti-war cases
Sentence
7 years
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, prohibition to administer websites for 4 years
Upheld January 31, 2024
Charges
- Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)
Full wording of the charges
The case against Balin was initiated because of six posts on VKontakte between 12 March and 4 April.
Latest event
January 31, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, March 30, 2023
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 7 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №4 (SIZO-4) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Samara Oblast
· Persecution begins
The case of "fakes" about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Toliatti
· Removed from the Rosfinmonitoring list
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Criminal case
The case of "fakes" about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Toliatti
- Case number
- 1-76/2023 (1-533/2022;)
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 10, Samara Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
446394, пос. Волжский, ул. Заводская д. 46, Самарская область, Красноярский район, ФКУ «ИК № 10 УФСИН России по Самарской области», Балин Андрей Альбертович, 1974 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Former co-chairman of the Samara branch of PARNAS (people’s freedom party). In 2014, he was sentenced to 100 hours of compulsory labour in a case of incitement to hatred (part 1 of article 282 of the Criminal Code). In 2016, Balin's flat was searched in a new case of incitement to hatred because of a Facebook post about state security officers. In September 2022, it became known that a criminal case was opened against Balin for "fakes" about the Armed Forces. On 17 March 2023, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, he was taken into custody in the courtroom. On 1 August, Balin told his lawyer that a cellmate in the pre-trial detention centre threatened him with a shiv because he spoke ill of Putin. The conflict twice escalated into a fight. According to the lawyer, Balin's cellmate was reprimanded at the commission and has already been removed.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.