Alexander Shestun
Alexander Shestun, born 1964, Moscow Oblast. Charges: Article 321 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Use of violence or threat of violence against an employee of a place of deprivation of liberty or…); “Case of Aleksandr Shestun on disorganising colony activities”, opened on January 1, 2024. Sentenced on October 9, 2024; previously convicted under Article 159 part 4, Russian Criminal Code; Article 174.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code; Article 289 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since January 30, 2025; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Tver Oblast. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, May 21, 2021.
In brief
Moscow Oblast, Tver Oblast · Serpukhov · Municipal deputies
Sentence
2 years
Imprisonment (strict regime)
Upheld January 30, 2025
Other verdicts
- August 10, 2022 — 6 months' imprisonment in a strict regime colony.
- December 24, 2020 — Fifteen years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony
Charges
- Article 159 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Fraud (committed by a group, on an especially large scale or with deprivation of the right to housing)
- Article 174.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Money laundering of funds illegally obtained as a result of committing a crime (by an organized group or on a particularly large scale).
- Article 289 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Illegal participation in business activities
- Article 290 part 6, Russian Criminal Code — Receiving a bribe on an especially large scale
- Article 321 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Use of violence or threat of violence against an employee of a place of deprivation of liberty or place of detention.
- Article 296 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Threats to the life of participants in legal proceedings and their close relatives
- Article 297 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Insulting participants in the administration of legal proceedings
- Article 319 (part unknown), Russian Criminal Code — Public insult of a government official
Full wording of the charges
repeatedly publicly threatened Judge Tatyana Yuferova and her relatives, State Prosecutor Sukhova and bailiff Kizilev with harm to health and with the use of a knife.
Latest event
January 30, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 21, 2021
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 20, 2021
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Criminal case opened
Case of Aleksandr Shestun on disorganising colony activities
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 6 months
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for Yaroslavl Oblast
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Criminal case opened
Alexander Shestun's case of threats
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Persecution begins
Alexander Shestun's fraud case
Criminal case
Case of Aleksandr Shestun on disorganising colony activities
Alexander Shestun's case of threats
Alexander Shestun's fraud case
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Tver Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
170100, Тверская область, г. Тверь, ул. Вагжанова, 141, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Тверской области, Шестун Александр Вячеславович, 1964 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
Head of the Serpukhov Municipal District of Moscow Region. On 13 June 2018, he was detained on charges of abuse of power. The next day the court decided to place him in custody. Later also accused of illegal entrepreneurship, fraud and money laundering. On 25 December 2020, sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime colony.
Observers believe that the reason for the prosecution was the confrontation with the governor of the region, the last point was Shestun's support of environmental activists in the fight against rubbish dumps.
In April 2021, a new criminal case was opened against Shestun under three articles at once: threat or violent actions in connection with the administration of justice (part 1 of article 296 of the Criminal Code), insulting a judge (part 2 of article 297 of the Criminal Code) and insulting a representative of the authorities (article 319 of the Criminal Code). On 11 August 2022, Shestun was sentenced to six months in a strict regime colony in this case.
In February 2024, it became known that a case of disorganisation of the colony's activities was also brought against Shestun. On 10 October 2024, he was sentenced in this case to two years in a penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
- Persecution episodes
- 3
Other people prosecuted under Article 159 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.