Aleksei Sokolov is a political prisoner

A human rights defender from Yekaterinburg has been remanded in custody for posting the Facebook logo

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksei Sokolov a political prisoner. Sokolov has been charged with the repeated display of extremist symbols for allegedly uploading the Facebook logo to his Telegram channel. Sokolov’s criminal prosecution violates his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Aleksei Sokolov, that all criminal charges against him be dropped, and his claims that he was assaulted by the police officers who arrested him be investigated.

Who is Aleksei Sokolov and what are the charges against him?

Aleksei Sokolov is a well-known human rights activist concerned with prisoners’ rights. He heads the human rights nonprofit Legal Basis and is the author of a documentary film about torture in the Russian penitentiary system. In 2010, he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on fabricated charges of theft and robbery. The Memorial Human Rights Centre recognised him as a political prisoner at that time.

In the autumn of 2023, based on reports from the Sverdlovsk branch of the Federal Penitentiary Service, Sokolov was charged with an administrative-law offence for publishing a link to his organisation’s Facebook page on the website, Human Rights Defenders of the Urals. The court considered it ‘public dissemination of a symbol of an extremist organisation’ and jailed Sokolov for five days.

On 5 July 2024, the homes of several human rights defenders in Yekaterinburg were searched, including that of Sokolov, who was then detained. Sokolov claims that at the time of his arrest, he was assaulted. Sokolov was then charged with ‘repeated display of extremist symbols’ (Article 282.4, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code) for allegedly uploading the Facebook logo to the Telegram channel Human Rights Defenders of the Urals. Additionally, according to the investigative authorities, Sokolov frequently posted content on this Telegram channel that ‘defames the activities of the penitentiary system.’

On 8 July in closed session, a court remanded Sokolov in custody. The human rights defender maintains his innocence. If convicted, he faces up to four years’ imprisonment.

Why do we consider Sokolov a political prisoner?

Sokolov’s prosecution for publishing the Facebook logo is unlawful and politically motivated. The article prohibiting the display of extremist symbols was adopted into law in July 2022 and has been applied – often on implausible grounds – in cases of the alleged intentional reproduction of symbols designated as ‘extremist.’ For instance, in March 2022 a court unjustifiably classified the activities of Facebook’s parent company, Meta Platforms Inc, as extremist. Furthermore, under this law, the fact that an individual has been found guilty of the corresponding administrative-law offence is sufficient for criminal charges to be brought. This contradicts the legal principle prohibiting anyone from being punished twice for the same act.

Aleksei Sokolov’s human rights work has been the real motivation for his prosecution. He has frequently and openly criticised the work of the Sverdlovsk branch of the Federal Penitentiary Service and reported on the abuses of prisoners’ rights, something which in the view of the investigative authorities damaged the Penitentiary Service’s reputation. The allegation of disseminating ‘inaccurate information’ discrediting the Federal Penitentiary Service has nothing to do with the alleged display of extremist symbols. In this regard, we are concerned that, given the absurdity of the current charge, criminal proceedings may be initiated against Sokolov on the basis of other unfounded allegations.

A detailed description of Aleksei Sokolov’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.

How can you help?

You can write to Aleksei Sokolov at the following address:

In Russian: 620019, г. Екатеринбург, ул. Репина, д. 4, ФКУ СИЗО-1 ГУФСИН России по Свердловской области, Соколову Алексею Вениаминовичу 1973 г. р.

In English: Aleksei Veniaminovich Sokolov (born 1973), Remand Prison No.1 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Sverdlovsk Oblast, 4 Repina Street., Yekaterinburg, 620019, Russia.

You can also send an email to Aleksei Sokolov via ZT (for payment with Russian bank cards) or OVD-Info (free of charge).

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.

You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.