Robert Shonov
Robert Shonov, born 1960, Moscow. Charges: Article 275.1, Russian Criminal Code (Confidential cooperation with foreigners); “Robert Shonov's case of co-operation with a foreign state”. Sentence (November 1, 2024): 4 years 10 months' deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, a fine of 1 million roubles. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 24, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 8, Amur Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, April 24, 2024.
In brief
Moscow, Primorsky Krai · Vladivostok, Moscow · Office workers · Anti-war cases
Sentence
4 years 10 months
deprivation of liberty in a general regime colony, a fine of 1 million roubles
Upheld January 17, 2025
Charges
- Article 275.1, Russian Criminal Code — Confidential cooperation with foreigners
Full wording of the charges
The investigation considers that Shonov, "being dissatisfied with the special military operation conducted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, established, by means of correspondence, co-operation relations on a confidential basis with representatives of a foreign state (the United States of America) for the purpose of assisting them in activities knowingly directed against the security of the Russian Federation"; carried out the tasks of employees of the United States political department in Moscow "to collect information" on the course of the "special military operation", mobilisation in the regions of Russia, "problematic aspects and evaluation of their influence on the protest activity of the population prior to the presidential election".
Latest event
January 17, 2025 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, April 24, 2024
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 10 months
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
Robert Shonov's case of co-operation with a foreign state
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
Robert Shonov's case of co-operation with a foreign state
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 8, Amur Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
675010, Амурская область, г.Благовещенск, ул. Албазинская, 45, ФКУ «ИК № 8 УФСИН России по Амурской области», Шонов Роберт Робертович, 1960 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
After the closure of the Consulate-General, where Shonov had worked for more than 25 years, he continued to cooperate with the US Embassy: he compiled news reports from the Russian press. Shonov was taken into custody in Vladivostok and then transferred to Moscow. The summonses for questioning in the Shonov case were sent to the two secretaries of the US Embassy in Moscow, David Bernstein and Jeffrey Seelin. The law enforcers refer to them as "employees of the embassy's political department" from whom Shonov allegedly received assignments. On 1 November 2024, a court in Vladivostok sentenced Shonov to four years and ten months in a general regime colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 275.1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.