Richard Rose
Richard Rose, born 1985, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism, or justification of terrorism); Article 207.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); Article 354.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Denial of facts, justification of crimes, and dissemination of false information about the Second…); “Richard Rose’s case of “fakes” about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine”. Sentence: 8 years. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 14, 2022; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 2, Sverdlovsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner.
In brief
Sverdlovsk Oblast · NULL, Kirov · Artists · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases
Sentence
8 years
Ban on activity, Imprisonment (general regime)
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism, or justification of terrorism
- Article 207.3 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries
- Article 354.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Denial of facts, justification of crimes, and dissemination of false information about the Second World War
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he published posts, images and videos on his personal VKontakte page containing "knowingly false information about the goals, objectives and procedure of the special military operation in the territory of the settlement of Bucha, Kyiv region" on the grounds of political hatred towards the head of state. The reason for this was the publication on Instagram of a video by Aleksandr Sotnik about the killing of residents of Bucha with the comment: "The massacre in Bucha will never be forgotten all over the world and the RuZZian fascists will never be forgiven for this!" The reason for initiating a case on incitement to terrorism was Rose's publication on Instagram of a video with an appeal by Ukrainian musician Svyatoslav Vakarchuk to stop the war and the comment: "There is only one way to stop Putler - to kill him physically".
Latest event
July 13, 2026 — persecution begins
Richard Rose’s case of “fakes” about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Timeline
· Persecution begins
Richard Rose’s case of “fakes” about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Kirov Oblast
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Criminal case
Richard Rose’s case of “fakes” about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine
- Case number
- 2-47/2023 (2-179/2022;)
Thematic group: The case of Richard and Maria Rose on "fakes" about the activities of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine; Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 2, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
623850, Свердловская обл., г. Ирбит, ул. Кирова, д.29а, ФКУ СИЗО-2 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области, Роуз Ричард Ричардович, 1985 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
On 14 April 2022, he was detained by force and during interrogation threatened violence against his wife and the removal of his child. Later, the court placed Rose in custody. In the pre-trial detention centre, he was pressured to confess, with threats that otherwise his wife would also be placed in detention, his son would be taken to an orphanage, and Rose himself would be transferred to the "offended", and in general his conditions would become unbearable. In addition, the investigator announced that the lawyer could no longer defend him. Rose refused then to answer any questions about the case or to perform proceedings in the presence of a court-appointed lawyer. At one of the trials, Rose said that he had been severely beaten by security forces during his arrest. Later he wrote to a friend that he was threatened with physical violence in the pre-trial detention centre. He does not receive letters, his letters also do not reach their recipients. He has been forbidden from calling his family. In August 2023, it was reported that during a search of his cell almost all his books and personal belongings were taken away from him. He was denied phone calls, he could only receive letters from two senders, and his own letters were not being sent.
On 22 September 2023, Rose was sentenced to eight years in a general regime colony. His wife reported that his letters were not being delivered and that he was not allowed to make phone calls, despite the court's permission.
In April 2024, it was revealed that Richard Rose was again being pressurised in the pre-trial detention centre. He was sent to a rubber-walled temporary isolation cell for four days after he protested that his notes, poems and a draft story had been taken away from him. There, according to Rose, he was kept naked. He was not allowed to use the toilet, so he decided to refuse food for a while so as not to to cope with a major need in the cell. Rose was then told he would be placed in a disciplinary cell for six days for allegedly sleeping during the day.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.