Andrei Biryukov
Andrei Biryukov, born 1987, Voronezh Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism, or justification of terrorism); Article 282 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Incitement of hatred or enmity); “Andrei Biryukov's case of public justification of terrorism and incitement to hatred in a court hearing”, opened on June 6, 2023. Sentence (April 17, 2024): 4 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony; previously convicted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code; Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since January 23, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 3, Tambov Oblast.
In brief
Voronezh Oblast · Voronezh · Entrepreneurs · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
4 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
No information about an appeal ruling.
Other verdicts
- November 9, 2022 — 3 years 6 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony, prohibition of activities related to the administering of websites for a period of 2 years
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
- Article 205.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism, or justification of terrorism
- Article 282 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Incitement of hatred or enmity
Full wording of the charges
The reason for the initiation of the case was a speech at the hearing of the appeal against the verdict in the first case, during which Biryukov, in particular, said: "I do not consider Putin's fascism to be legitimate, I do not consider it a state. A raging fascist petrol station - nothing more than that. It has carried out, for example, punitive strikes on peaceful towns in Ukraine as revenge for an absolutely just and necessary sabotage, on a county bridge built by the occupiers. Any action against it is not a terrorist attack, but a necessity, so I do not just passively justify, but actively promote any terrorist actions against state military facilities of the Russian Federation."
Latest event
April 17, 2024 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 4 years.
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years
· Criminal case opened
Andrei Biryukov's case of public justification of terrorism and incitement to hatred in a court hearing
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №3 (SIZO-3) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Voronezh Oblast
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 3 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Andrei Biryukov's case of calls to extremism and public justification of terrorism
Criminal case
Andrei Biryukov's case of calls to extremism and public justification of terrorism
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Andrei Biryukov's case of public justification of terrorism and incitement to hatred in a court hearing
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 3, Tambov Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
393265, Тамбовская область, Рассказовский район, п. Зеленый, ул. Центральная, д.6, ФКУ «ИК № 3 УФСИН России по Тамбовской области», Бирюков Андрей Юрьевич, 1987 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Andrei is registered with a psychiatrist. Before his arrest, his relatives began the process of registering him as disabled. Biryukov’s mother and her parents also have disabilities, and without Andrei’s help, they struggle to manage the household.
Andrei was detained on 28 July 2022 following a search of his home. The court later remanded him in custody. According to his mother, the true reason for the prosecution was likely his posts about the war in Ukraine. Andrei previously ran a website covering events in the country. His lawyer explained that the investigator initially refused to allow face-to-face meetings with relatives or phone calls to Andrei, only permitting contact after he confessed and agreed to cooperate with the investigation. Ultimately, Andrei admitted guilt and agreed to assist the authorities.
On 9 November 2022, he was sentenced to three and a half years in a general-regime penal colony, along with a two-year ban on managing websites.
Following his speech at the trial during the appeal, a new case was opened against him for public justification of terrorism and incitement to hatred. On 18 April 2024, he was sentenced to four years for this offence. When combined with his previous sentence, Andrei’s total term amounts to six years.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 2
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.