Yekaterina Fatyanova is a political prisoner
A Krasnoyarsk activist has been sentenced to two years of compulsory work in custody for ‘discrediting’ the army for publications in a local communist newspaper
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yekaterina Fatyanova a political prisoner. Fatyanova was convicted of repeated ‘discrediting’ of the Russian army for publications in a Krasnoyarsk communist newspaper. Fatyanova’s prosecution and conviction violated her rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the release of Yekaterina Fatyanova and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.
Who is Yekaterina Fatyanova and what were the charges against her?
Yekaterina Fatyanova is a Krasnoyarsk-based left-wing activist, a participant in peaceful opposition protests and editor of the local newspaper, Raboche-Krestyansky Serp i Molot (The Workers’ and Peasants’ Sickle and Hammer). In 2008, she was convicted and given a suspended sentence on a charge of making public calls to engage in extremism (Article 280, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code) for a speech at a rally. Since 2013, she has been prosecuted in administrative-law proceedings at least 17 times for taking part in opposition protests.
In mid-2022, the investigative authorities attempted to open a criminal case against Fatyanova on a charge of spreading ‘fake news’ about the army (Article 207.3) for an article published in the newspaper she edited. Her home was searched, her phone confiscated, and she was interrogated, but then released.
In December 2022, Fatyanova was fined 30,000 roubles for the administrative-law offence of ‘discrediting’ the armed forces for putting up anti-war posters.
In January 2024, after Fatyanova distributed the newspaper at a rally in 2023, the authorities brought a criminal charge against her for repeated ‘discrediting’ of the Russian army (Article 280.3, Part 1) The alleged ‘discrediting’ was to be found in an article titled ‘Reflections on the Nature of Imperialism.’
Pending trial, Fatyanova was banned from certain activities. Fatyanova did not deny distributing the newspaper but refused to plead guilty.
On 4 December 2024, a Krasnoyarsk court sentenced Yekaterina Fatyanova to two years of compulsory work in custody.
Why do we consider Yekaterina Fatyanova a political prisoner?
The article of the Russian Criminal Code on repeated ‘discrediting’ of the army was adopted into law in order to suppress dissent following the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In effect, the article bans any criticism of the war or of the Russian authorities, in violation of the right to freedom of expression and of the principle of legal certainty. The article must be rescinded, all related criminal convictions quashed, and ongoing charges dropped.
The very fact that Fatyanova was prosecuted under this article for ‘discrediting’ the army shows that her prosecution was politically motivated and stems from her criticism of the war against Ukraine. We believe that criticism of the war benefits society and should not be grounds for criminal prosecution.
A detailed description of Yekaterina Fatyanova’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
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