UN Calls for Immediate Release of Alexei Gorinov Amid Escalating Crackdown on Dissent in Russia

UN Special Rapporteur Condemns Russia’s ‘War Censorship’ Laws and Arbitrary Detention Practices

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, Mariana Katzarova, has reiterated demands for the immediate and unconditional release of Alexei Gorinov, a former municipal deputy imprisoned under Russia’s “war censorship” laws targeting peaceful dissent. Gorinov, detained since April 2022, is now serving an additional three-year sentence, bringing his total incarceration to ten years.

A Punitive Response to Free Speech

Gorinov was first sentenced on July 8, 2022, to seven years in prison under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, which criminalizes the dissemination of “false information about the Russian army.” This followed remarks made at a municipal council meeting in March 2022, where he condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, referred to it as aggression, and highlighted the toll on Ukrainian children.

On November 29, 2024, a second criminal case led to an additional three-year sentence. This time, Gorinov was accused under Article 205.2, which penalizes the “public justification of terrorism,” for comments allegedly made about a Ukrainian attack on the Crimean bridge while he was in a prison hospital.

“This law mirrors the oppressive tactics of the Soviet era’s Article 58, used to suppress dissenting voices,” Katzarova said. “Gorinov’s case exemplifies the severe and unjust measures taken against those who dare to oppose the government’s narrative.”

Conditions Amounting to Torture

Gorinov’s detention conditions have drawn sharp condemnation from human rights advocates. Prolonged solitary confinement in a SHIZO (punishment cell), mandatory check-ins every two hours causing sleep deprivation, and denial of adequate medical treatment have been reported. These punitive measures have led to a significant deterioration in Gorinov’s health.

In December 2023, Gorinov was briefly subjected to enforced disappearance when his whereabouts were unknown for nearly two weeks. It was later revealed he had been hospitalized for a serious health condition, underscoring the dire conditions political prisoners face in Russia.

Wider Crackdown on Dissent in Russia

Gorinov’s case is part of a broader pattern of repression under “war censorship” and “terrorism” laws enacted after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Katzarova’s latest report to the Human Rights Council highlights the systematic use of these laws to target peaceful protesters and critics of the government.

According to the report:

• Nearly 2,000 individuals, possibly more, are classified as political prisoners in Russia.
• National security laws are being exploited to suppress dissent.
• Trials are often marred by arbitrary detentions and lack of due process.

“The international community and Russian civil society have repeatedly called for Gorinov’s release and access to adequate healthcare, but the opposite has occurred,” Katzarova said.

Global Calls for Action

In November 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Gorinov’s imprisonment arbitrary and called for his immediate release. Katzarova has renewed these calls, urging Russia to cease its misuse of national security legislation to silence critics.

“The systematic abuse of these laws is a direct attack on the fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly,” Katzarova stated. “The world must continue to advocate for the release of all political prisoners and for an end to these oppressive practices.”

The Special Rapporteur emphasized that Gorinov’s case underscores the urgent need for international attention to Russia’s growing human rights abuses. She vowed to continue her efforts to hold Russia accountable and to support the release of those unjustly detained.