Pavel Zelensky
Pavel Zelensky, born 1981, Moscow. Charges: Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); “The case of Pavel Zelensky”. Sentence (February 1, 2022): One year and eleven months' deprivation of liberty in an open prison. Status: at large. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, November 1, 2021; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 31, 2021.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · Artists · Extremism cases
Sentence
1 year 11 months
One year and eleven months' deprivation of liberty in an open prison
First instance, April 15, 2021: 2 years
Charges
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
became a member of an extremist community, within the framework of which he held "uncoordinated public events, during which calls for extremist and terrorist activities were made, unlawful acts were committed that violated human and civil rights and freedoms, and public order and public safety were harmed".
Latest event
April 5, 2022 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, November 1, 2021
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, February 23, 2021
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, January 31, 2021
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Cassation ruling
sentence changed · 1 year 11 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution ends
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years
· Preventive measure: house arrest
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of Pavel Zelensky
Criminal case
The case of Pavel Zelensky
- Case number
- 01-0333/2021
Details and sources
Full summary
Detained on 15 February 2021. During the search Zelensky was hit on the head. An investigator at the Main Investigation Department forbade the emergency doctors from hospitalise him. A officer in a plain clothes used violence against the lawyer and pushed him out of the office. The same day the court ordered to place Zelensky in custody. On 18 February, it became known that Zelensky admitted guilt and refused a lawyer. Representatives of the FBC suggested that that pressure was exerted on him. Zelensky himself and his wife denied it. On 24 February, he was transferred to a house imprisonment.
On 16 April he was sentenced to two years in a general regime penal colony. On 1 June, the court of appeal reduced the term by a month. On 2 February 2022, the Court of Cassation changed the place of serving the sentence to an open prison.
In September 2021, it became known that a case of participation in the activities of an extremist community was opened against Zelensky in connection with his participation in the activities of various structures of Alexei Navalny. The press release of the Investigative Committee also mentioned his previous criminal case.
Zelensky was released on 7 October 2022. According to unconfirmed reports, he was transferred to the status of a witness in the extremist community case.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.