Yurii Dmitriev
Yurii Dmitriev, born 1956, Karelia. Charges: Article 132 part 4 item b, Russian Criminal Code (Sexual violence with grave consequences against a minor (under 14 years of age)); Article 135 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code (Sexual activity involving a person of under 16 years of age); Article 222 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition); “Yuri Dmitriev's case of violent acts against a minor”. Sentence (January 16, 2023): 15 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 15, 2016; place of detention: Penal colony No. 18, Mordovia. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, August 13, 2017; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, July 22, 2017.
In brief
Karelia · Petrozavodsk · Scientists
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony
First instance, April 4, 2018: 2 years 6 months' of restricted liberty
Charges
- Article 132 part 4 item b, Russian Criminal Code — Sexual violence with grave consequences against a minor (under 14 years of age)
- Article 135 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Sexual activity involving a person of under 16 years of age
- Article 222 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition
- Article 242.2 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Using a minor with a view to manufacture pornographic materials or objects.
Full wording of the charges
Produced pornographic materials involving his adopted daughter, experienced sexual excitement when photographing her, committed lewd acts of a sexual nature against his adopted daughter, kept a weapon at home
Latest event
January 16, 2023 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, August 13, 2017
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, July 22, 2017
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Karelia
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Preventive measure: travel ban (written undertaking)
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Karelia
· Persecution begins
Yuri Dmitriev's case of violent acts against a minor
Criminal case
Yuri Dmitriev's case of violent acts against a minor
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 18, Mordovia
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
431100, Республика Мордовия, Зубово-Полянский район, п. Потьма, ул. Красноармейская, д. 10, ИК-18, ФКУ «ИК № 18 УФСИН России по Республике Мордовия», Дмитриев Юрий Алексеевич, 1956 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Yuri Dmitriev is a historian and researcher of mass burial sites in Karelia from the time of the Great Terror. The case against Dmitriev began with an anonymous denunciation alleging that he displayed his adopted daughter naked. On December 13, 2016, during an apartment inspection, photos of his adopted daughter, some of which were without clothing, were found on his computer. A criminal case was initiated for the use of a minor in the creation of pornographic materials. His adopted daughter, who had lived with him for eight years, was taken from him. On December 15, Dmitriev was arrested.
On February 6, 2017, based on the examination of the photographs, he was also charged with lewd acts without the use of violence against a minor. On February 10, he was additionally charged with illegal possession of weapons, as fragments of hunting weapons were seized during the inspection. The case was sent to court. In January 2018, after a psychiatric examination deemed him not dangerous, Dmitriev was released under a travel restriction order.
On April 4, 2018, the court acquitted Dmitriev of the charges of lewd acts and producing child pornography but found him guilty of weapon possession and sentenced him to 2.5 years of restricted freedom. On June 14, this decision was overturned, and Dmitriev's case was sent for a new trial. On June 26, Dmitriev was detained and on June 28, he was arrested under a new case involving violent sexual acts.
On July 22, 2020, the court found Dmitriev not guilty of child pornography, lewd acts, and weapon possession but sentenced him to three and a half years in a high-security colony for violent acts against a minor. On September 29, the appeal court increased the sentence to 13 years in a high-security colony and sent the acquittals for review. On December 27, 2021, the first-instance court reviewed the episodes of producing pornography, lewd acts, and weapon possession and increased the total sentence to 15 years.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 132 part 4 item b, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.