Andrei Pyzh
Andrei Pyzh, born 1984, Moscow. Charges: Article 283 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Disclosure of state secrets with grave consequences); “Andrei Pyzh's state secrets case”. Sentence (October 28, 2021): 5 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: at large.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Bloggers
Sentence
5 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld April 10, 2022
Charges
- Article 283 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Disclosure of state secrets with grave consequences
Full wording of the charges
According to the press service of the Moscow prosecutor's office, Andrei Pyzh from December 2018 to August 2020 "illegally obtained information constituting state secrets regarding the design features and technical systems of some regime facilities located in the Moscow region". An anonymous source of the TASS agency said that "he is charged with smuggling to the territory of Ukraine data related to metro lines in Moscow, as well as underground transport facilities of mobilisation purpose, which are protected by law and law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation. This information is classified as state secrets".
Latest event
September 30, 2024 — imprisonment ends
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Persecution begins
Andrei Pyzh's state secrets case
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
Andrei Pyzh's state secrets case
Details and sources
Full summary
Video blogger, author of the YouTube channel Urbanturizm. On 5 August 2020, he was detained in Moscow by FSB officers. The next day, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow elected a measure of restraint in the form of detention in custody against Pyzh. At the trial on the preventive measure, the video blogger's interests were represented by Alexei Khalzov, a lawyer by appointment who, according to media reports, actively cooperated with the FSB. Pyzh was charged with illegally obtaining and disseminating abroad information constituting a state secret. There is no information in the public domain about what specific actions of Andrey Pyzh are considered criminal by the FSB. An anonymous source of the TASS news agency said that "he is charged with transporting to the territory of Ukraine data related to the metro lines in Moscow, as well as underground transport facilities for mobilisation purposes, which are protected by law and law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation. This information is classified as state secrets." On 29 October 2021, Pyzh was sentenced to five years in a general regime colony. In October 2023, Pyzh was denied commutation of the remainder of his sentence to compulsory labour. In early 2024, he was transferred to light detention conditions. On 30 September 2024, he was released.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia, Ukraine