Alexey Bessarabov
Alexey Bessarabov, born 1976, Occupied territory of Sevastopol. Charges: Article 222 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition (by a group, using official positions or the Internet)); Article 222.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment, or carrying of explosives or…); Article 281 part 2 item a applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Attempted sabotage by an organized group); “The case of Alexey Bessarabov and Vladimir Dudka”. Sentence (April 3, 2019): 14 years' imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony and a fine of 300,000 rubles (US$3,250). Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since November 10, 2016; place of detention: Penal colony No. 1, Stavropol Krai. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 19, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, May 13, 2020.
In brief
Occupied territory of Sevastopol · Sevastopol · Sailors · Terrorism cases
Sentence
14 years
imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony and a fine of 300,000 rubles (US$3,250)
Upheld October 14, 2019
Charges
- Article 222 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition (by a group, using official positions or the Internet)
- Article 222.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment, or carrying of explosives or explosive devices committed by an organized group of people
- Article 281 part 2 item a applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Attempted sabotage by an organized group
Full wording of the charges
As a serving officer of the Main Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Bessabarov participated in the preparation of a sabotage attack.
Latest event
May 19, 2020 — recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, May 19, 2020
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 13, 2020
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 14 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
· Persecution begins
The case of Alexey Bessarabov and Vladimir Dudka
Criminal case
The case of Alexey Bessarabov and Vladimir Dudka
Other defendants in the case
- Vladimir Dudka — Imprisoned, 14 years
Thematic group: The case of the Sevastopol saboteurs
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 1, Stavropol Krai
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
357000, Ставропольский край, с. Кочубеевское, ФКУ «ИК № 1 УФСИН России по Ставропольскому краю», Бессарабов Алексей Евгеньевич, 1976 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 9 November 2016, Bessarabov was detained in Sevastopol. He was accused of preparing explosions in Crimea. The investigation declared him a member of the "subversive-terrorist group of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine". After Bessarabov had been detained, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said that he had nothing to do with the intelligence directorate and there were no sabotage groups in Crimea. Bessarabov was arrested.
For several days after his arrest, Bessabarov's relatives could not find him and an independent lawyer was not allowed to visit him. During this time, the Federal Security Service circulated a video of Bessarabov confessing. The Crimean human rights group claims that the testimony was given under pressure and the video is a staged interrogation. As of now, Bessabarov refuses to plead guilty.
In March 2018, the Crimean Prosecutor's Office approved an indictment against Bessarabov on charges of preparation for sabotage as part of an organised group and illegal acquisition and storage of weapons, ammunition and explosives committed by an organised group. In April, the court returned the case to the prosecutor for correction. In August, the case started in court again.
On 4 April 2019, Bessarabov was sentenced to 14 years in a strict-regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 222 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.