Appeal to the President of the Russian Federation (accompanied by a list of political prisoners, whose liberation is sought by protesters in Bolotnaya Square, Sakharov Avenue and march on February 4)

Mister President,

We, the citizens of the Russian Federation, who gathered for a rally "For Fair Elections" on February 4, are hereby urging you to pardon by your decree all those listed below, all those, whom we believe to be political prisoners or just wrongfully convicted.

We believe that after looking into the fates of these people you will be convinced that all of them have been unjustly deprived of their freedom, that every criminal case that we present to your attention has circumstances, which cast doubt as to impartiality of the pre-trial investigation and the purity of judicial proceedings.

Mr President, we hope and expect that by our next mass event, scheduled for February 26, you will respond to the wishes of tens of thousands of Russian citizens, address the issue and, thus, radically change the destiny of these people and return them to their families and the society.

Citizens of the Russian Federation

February 4, 2012, Moscow, Bolotnaya Square

Political prisoners of the Russian Federation

1. Arakcheev, Sergey Vladimirovich, Lieutenant of Internal Troops, was sentenced on December 27, 2007, to 15 years of high security jail under Article 105, Part 2, points "a, g, l" (murder of two or more persons, committed by a group of persons, or by a group of persons by previous concert, or by an organized group, under the motive of ethnic, racial or religious hatred or enmity, or of blood feud), Article 167, Part 1 (intentional destruction or damage to others' property), and Article 286, Part 3, points "a, b" (abuse of power, by force or threat of force, with use of weapons or special means) of the Russian Criminal Code. The investigation and the trial were accompanied by gross violations of the law; and Arakcheev's guilt was not proved by the circumstances of the case. The juries had twice acquitted him; but later these acquittals were cancelled.
2. Baranovskiy, Dmitry Roaldovich, is in custody since August 2009 under a fabricated charge of extortion, not confirmed by objective evidences, but based only on testimonies of the persons whom he criticized. The arrest and prosecution of Baranovskiy had to do with his anti-corruption activities and exposing violations of the law by high-ranking officials of the Moscow Region.
3. Beloousov, Ivan Sergeevich, was sentenced to 6 years under Articles 213 and 222 of the Russian Criminal Code on the case about an explosion of a lamppost in Manege Square, committed allegedly on motives associated with nationalist convictions. Neither Beloousov's involvement in the explosion, nor his imputed motive was proved at the trial.
4. Berezyuk, Igor Anatolievich, was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison under Articles 212 and 318 of the Russian Criminal Code in relation to the events in Manege Square in Moscow in December 2010. The charges of inciting mass riots and violence against a state official were actually refuted in court; and the conviction was passed for political reasons, in particular, because Mr Berezyuk is a member of "The Other Russia".
5. Vlasov, Vladimir Sergeevich, was sentenced in 2007 behind closed doors by the Moscow Regional Court (trial by jury) under Articles 205, 105, 222 and 223 of the Russian Criminal Code to 18 years of imprisonment in a high security colony on charges of blowing up the Grozny-Moscow train in 2005, despite the failure to prove his guilt and apparent contradictions of the prosecution. The first jury, which handed down a verdict of acquittal, was dissolved. The political motives for Mr Vlasov's prosecution stemmed out from his nationalist convictions and the need to "solve" the resonant case at any cost.
6. Vizir, Sergey Andreeevich, Chief Economist of the "TsNIIMASh-Export", was sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment in a high security colony on charges of illegal export of technologies, smuggling, laundering of illegally obtained money and embezzlement. Mr Vizir and his colleagues fell victim to persecution solely because of their legitimate scientific and economic activities. The main charge - of illegal export to China of dual-use technologies - was ungrounded, as concluded by leading experts in the industry.
7. Gayanov, Bulat Marsovich, in 2005 was sentenced by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Bashkortostan for involvement in the religious organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir" under Article 210, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code (creation of a criminal community) to 7 years of imprisonment. In December 2010, the Lenin District Court of Barnaul passed a new verdict against Gayanov, finding him guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist religious organization (Part 1. Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). Both sentences were based on falsified evidences. The very fact of criminal prosecution for participation in the activities of a religious organization, not involved in violence and never calling to violence, makes Mr Gayanov a prisoner of conscience.
8. Goryacheva, Alyona Viktorovna, was convicted in October 2009 under Articles 213 and 116 of the Russian Criminal Code to 3.5 years of imprisonment in a minimum security colony. The sentence for taking part in a domestic brawl was passed despite the absence of claims from the victims and was unfair and biased. Ms Goryacheva's prosecution was clearly associated with her participation in the activities of the National Bolshevik Party.
9. Gumarov, Ravil Shafievich, in 2006 was sentenced by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan to 9 years of imprisonment under Articles 205, 222 and 205 of the Russian Criminal Code on charges of involvement in an explosion of a district gas pipeline in the city of Bugulma. The explosion caused ho harm or destructions. The proofs of Mr Gumarov's guilt (and of the very fact of a terror act) were falsified; while the criminal prosecution had to do with his religious activities and the fact that he had earlier been detained by US troops in Afghanistan and was kept at the Guantanamo Prison, from where he was released without charges. The initial verdict, based on the 2005 jury's unanimous acquittal, was cancelled.
10. Danilov, Valentin Vladimirovich, a candidate of physical-mathematical sciences, a physicist, a leading expert in the field of plasma physics, was sentenced in 2004 to 14 years of imprisonment in a high security colony under Articles 275 (treason) and 159 (fraud) of the Russian Criminal Code. The main accusation was an alleged transfer of secret technologies to China; however, from the viewpoint of many experts, the legally transferred information was not secret. Mr Danilov's guilt was not proved; in fact, he was persecuted solely for his legitimate professional activities, which makes him a prisoner of conscience. The earlier (2003) acquittal passed to Danilov on the basis of a jury's verdict was cancelled by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.
11. Zherebin, Pavel Mikhailovich, in October 2009 was convicted under Articles 213, 112 and 115 of the Russian Criminal Code to 4 years in prison. The sentence for his participation in the domestic brawl was passed despite the absence of victims' claims and was unfair and biased. Mr Zherebin's prosecution was clearly related to his participation in the activities of the National Bolshevik Party.
12. Ishmuratov, Timur Ravilevich, in 2006 was sentenced by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan to 8 years of imprisonment under Articles 205 and 222 of the Russian Criminal Code on charges of involvement in an explosion of a district gas pipeline in the city of Bugulma. The explosion caused ho harm or destructions. The proofs of Mr Ishmuratov's guilt (and of the very fact of a terror act) were falsified; while the criminal prosecution had to do with his religious activities and the fact that he had earlier been detained by US troops in Afghanistan and was kept at the Guantanamo Prison, from where he was released without charges. The initial verdict, based on the 2005 jury's unanimous acquittal, was cancelled.
13. Kalinichenko, Maxim Sergeevich, is in custody at the IVS (temporary detention facility) of Saint-Petersburg under a false charge of instigating an attack on policemen. The incident occurred before the rally "For Fair Elections" on December 10, 2011, with dozens of witnesses, who have no doubts about Mr Kalinichenko's innocence. The persons involved in direct violence were subjected to administrative fines for disorderly conduct and released. Maxim took an active part in opposition's actions.
14. Klevachev, Mikhail Mikhailovich, in 2007 was convicted behind closed doors by the Moscow Regional Court (by a jury) under Articles 205, 105, 222 and 223 of the Russian Criminal Code to 18 years of imprisonment in a high security colony on charges of blowing up the Grozny-Moscow train in 2005, despite the failure to prove his guilt and apparent contradictions of the prosecution. The first jury, which handed down a verdict of acquittal, was dissolved. The political motives for Mr Klevachev's prosecution stemmed out from his nationalist convictions and the need to "solve" the resonant case at any cost.
15. Kozevin, Alexander, was convicted for participation in the events in Manege Square on December 11, 2010, to 2.5 years in prison under Articles 212 and 318 of the Russian Criminal Code. His conviction, as well as of other members of "The Other Russia", was politically motivated, biased and deliberately selective.
16. Kurtsin, Alexei, Deputy Manager of Affairs of the Company "Yukos-Moscow", was sentenced in 2005 and 2008 to 12.5 years in a minimum security colony on charges of embezzlement of the property entrusted to him and of laundering criminal money. Both trials saw numerous violations of the defendant's rights. Mr Kurtsin fell victim to persecution of the top management of the "Yukos" Company; and his conviction was political in nature.
17. Lebedev, Platon Leonidovich, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "Menatep" Group, was sentenced in 2005 to eight years in prison on charges of causing property damage, fraud, non-fulfilment of the court decision and evasion. In 2010, within the second "Yukos" case, he was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment under Articles 160 (embezzlement) and 174.1 (money laundering) of the Russian Criminal Code. The second Lebedev's sentence was self-contradictory and contrary to his first sentence. Like the first sentence, the second one was passed with numerous violations of the substantive and procedural law; it was politically motivated. The factual circumstances put into the basis of both sentences were nothing more but Mr Lebedev's legitimate economic activity. The "Amnesty International" has recognized Lebedev as a prisoner of conscience.
18. Lukin, Anton Vyacheslavovich, the organizer of actions for the freedom of assembly "Strategy-31" in the Khabarovsk Territory, is kept in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. In November 2010, he was sentenced to 1.5 years of conditional imprisonment with 2 years of probation under Articles 282 (incitement of social and ethnic enmity) and 282.2 (participation in an extremist organization) of the Russian Criminal Code. Currently, Mr Lukin is also accused under Part 1, Article 282.2 (organization of an extremist organization) of the Russian Criminal Code. Virtually all charges against Lukin stem from his non-violent and not calling for violence public activities, which makes him a prisoner of conscience.
19. Malakhovskiy, Vladimir, was sentenced on March 5, 2007, by the Basmanny Court to 12 years in a high security colony under Articles 160 and 174.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. The trial was held behind closed doors, well within the overall picture of politically motivated persecution of shareholders and managers of the "Yukos" Oil Company. The verdict is in conflict with other judicial and governmental decisions on the "Yukos" case and ignores the arguments of the defence.
20. Matveev, Igor, Major of Internal Troops, was sentence in September 2011 to four years of imprisonment under Article 286 (abuse of power by using violence) of the Russian Criminal Code. The investigation and trial were clearly biased; and Major Matveev's prosecution as such was obviously a reaction to his public revelations of thefts.
21. Mokhnatkin, Sergey Evgenievich, was sentenced in June 2010 under Article 318 (violence against a policeman) of the Russian Criminal Code to 2.5 years of imprisonment. The prosecution of Mr Mokhnatkin is politically motivated, since he was detained for peaceful protest on December 31, 2009, in defence of the freedom of assembly ("Strategy-31"); the proceedings were biased and one-sided: the sentence was based on evidences of six policemen, while those of the defence witnesses were rejected.
22. Murtazalieva, Zara Khasanovna, in March 2005 was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison on charges of her alleged intention to blow up the moving stairs in the shopping centre in Manege Square and to involve two Russian Muslim girls in this crime. The investigation was held with gross violations, the defendant faced violence, and the proofs of Ms Murtazalieva's guilt were obviously falsified.
23. Osipova, Taisia Vitalievna, was sentenced in December 2011 to 10 years in prison by the Zadneprovsky Court of Smolensk allegedly for selling drugs. Despite the nature of the charges, the case from the very beginning was run by the Centre to Combat Extremism. The accusations were based on evidences of the employees of the above Centre and witnesses from the youth movement "Nashi" and the Young Guard of United Russia (known as MGER). The investigation and trial were clearly biased and one-sided; in fact there are also numerous other violations in the case. The criminal prosecution is associated with participation of Ms Osipova and her husband S. Fomchenkov in the activities of "The Other Russia".
24. Panin, Leonid, was convicted for taking part in the events in Manege Square on December 11, 2010, to two years of imprisonment under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code. His conviction, like of other members of "The Other Russia" was politically motivated, biased and deliberately selective.
25. Pereverzin, Vladimir, was sentenced in March 2007 by the Basmanny Court to 11 years in a high security colony under Articles 160 (misappropriation of entrusted property) and 174.1 (money laundering) of the Russian Criminal Code. The trial was held behind closed doors, well within the overall picture of politically motivated persecution of shareholders and managers of the "Yukos" Oil Company. The verdict was in conflict with other judicial and governmental decisions on the "Yukos" case, and ignored the arguments of the defence. The toughness of the verdict to Pereverzin had to do with his refusal to defame "Yukos" bosses.
26. Petlin, Maxim Anatolievich, Chairman of the Sverdlovsk Regional Branch of the "Yabloko" Party and one of the organizers of the "Strategy-31" actions in support of the freedom of assembly in Ekaterinburg, is kept in the SIZO of Ekaterinburg. He is accused of extorting a bribe. The court saw the grounds for putting Mr Petlin behind bars in his participation in sanctioned public rallies, as well as in an unjustified victim's statement about an armed attack on him allegedly organized under Petlin's order. His persecution is carried out by means of falsifications in connection with his legitimate social activities.
27. Pichugin, Alexei Vladimirovich, the former head of the in-house economic security of the "Yukos" Oil Company. By two sentences in 2005 and 2007 he was sentenced, under Articles 162 (robbery) and 105 (murder) of the Russian Criminal Code, to life imprisonment to be served in a special security colony. In the course of the inquiry and trial, numerous violations were registered, which allow asserting that Mr Pichugin's guilt was not proved, while the evidences, on which the above sentences had been based, were falsified. In particular, many witnesses for the prosecution stated that they had slandered Pichugin.
28. Pulin, Mikhail Mikhailovich, was convicted in October 2009 under Articles 213, 116 and 115 of the Russian Criminal Code to 3.5 years of imprisonment. The unfair and biased verdict was handed down for his participation in a domestic brawl, despite the absence of any claims from the victims. In was obvious that Mr Pulin's prosecution was associated with his participation in the activities of the National Bolshevik Party (NBP). In July 2010, he was convicted again, this time under Articles 165 and 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code; and his aggregate imprisonment term made 4 years. The basis for the second sentence was Pulin's involved in the action "Eat Free" and his membership in the NBP.
29. Reshetin, Igor Andreevich, Director General of the "TsNIIMASh-Export", in December 2007 was sentenced by the Lefortovo Court of Moscow to 11 years of imprisonment in a high security colony on charges of illegal technology exports, smuggling and laundering of the money illegally obtained by theft and embezzlement. The main accusation - of illegal export to China of dual-use technologies - was ungrounded. Mr Reshetin fell victim - together with his colleagues - to persecution exclusively for his legitimate scientific and economic activities.
30. Sokolov, Igor Leonidovich, was sentenced in July 2009 under Article 213.3 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR, and under Articles 209 and 327 of the Russian Criminal Code to 13 years of imprisonment for his alleged involvement in the attack of Basayev's gang on Budyonnovsk. The court failed to consider the proofs of his innocence and exhibited bias and one-sidedness; perhaps, Mr Sokolov's prosecution had to do with entrepreneurial competition.
31. Torbeev, Grigory Ivanovich, an activist of the "Left-Wing Front", in November 2011 was sentenced, under Article 318 (use of violence, dangerous to life or health, against a state official) of the Russian Criminal Code to 1.5 years of settlement-colony for an alleged striking - at the action "Day of Anger" on October 12, 2010, - a policeman with ignited fireworks (which had no harm for the policeman's health). There were no objective confirmations of Mr Torbeev's guilt; while witnesses' evidences and video records refute his guilt. He was convicted for his public activeness, probably, to give a lesson to other civil activists.
32. Unchuk, Kirill Vladimirovich, was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code in relation to the events in Manege Square in Moscow in December 2010. The prosecution was biased and selective in nature; and the guilty verdict was handed down for political reasons, in particular, because Mr Unchuk is a member of "The Other Russia".
33. Urusov, Valentin Yakovlevich, the leader of the independent trade union "Profsvoboda", in June 2009 was sentenced to six years of imprisonment under Article 228 (drug possession) of the Russian Criminal Code by the Court of the town of Udachny, Mirny District. By the complex of known data, the charge was falsified; the drugs were planted on Mr Urusov. The reason was in his struggle for respect of the rights of the workers of the "Alrosa" Diamond Company and organization of strikes at the enterprise. There are evidences that the trade union activist was subjected to abuse and torture in the course of the inquiry.
34. Khamiev, Lors, in April 2009 was sentenced by the Moscow City Court to 8 years in a high security colony on charges of plotting an attempt on Kadyrov. The numerous procedural violations and apparent contradictions in the case force to believe that it was falsified and makes an example of unjustified persecution of Chechens on terrorism charges.
35. Khodorkovsky, Mikhail Borisovich, the former Chairman of the "Yukos" Oil Company, in 2005 was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of causing property damage, fraud, non-fulfilment of court decision, tax evasion and embezzlement. In 2010, within the second "Yukos" case, he was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment under Articles 160 (embezzlement) and 174.1 (money laundering) of the Russian Criminal Code. Mr Khodorkovsky's second sentence contained many contradictions and was contrary to his first sentence. Like the first one, it was passed with numerous violations of the substantive and procedural law, and was politically motivated. The factual circumstances, which were put into the basis of his two sentences, were his legitimate economic activities. Khodorkovsky was recognized as a prisoner of conscience by the "Amnesty International".
36. Khubaev, Ruslan Tamerlanovich, in October 2011 was sentenced to 4.5 years of high security regime under Articles 212 and 318 of the Russian Criminal Code in relation to the events in Manege Square in Moscow in December 2010. The charges of inciting riots and using violence against state officials were actually refuted in court, which makes to believe that the verdict of guilty was handed down for political reasons, in particular, because of Mr Khubaev membership in "The Other Russia".
37. Chekalin, Grigory Alexandrovich, the former deputy public prosecutor of the city of Ukhta (Komi Republic), in December 2010 was sentenced by the Syktyvkar City Court under Article 307 of the Russian Criminal Code to 1.5 years of settlement-colony on charges of perjury. Mr Chekalin was prosecuted and convicted in connection with his lawful actions; moreover, in connection with a bona fide performance of his duties as deputy public prosecutor of Ukhta, namely, with his defence of innocent persons, convicted, according to Chekalin, to life imprisonment through violations of the law. There is a direct and obvious connection between the facts of public statements made by Chekalin on the work of law enforcement bodies (including high-ranking bosses thereof) and initiation of a criminal case against him. In other words, Grigory Chekalin was prosecuted for his implementation of the inherent right to the freedom of expression and dissemination of information.
38. Shaikhutdinov, Fanis Aglyamovich, was sentenced in 2006 by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan to 10.5 years in prison under Articles 205 and 222 of the Russian Criminal Code on charges of involvement in an explosion of a district gas pipeline in the city of Bugulma. The explosion caused ho harm or destructions. The proofs of Mr Shaikhutdinov's guilt (and of the very fact of a terror act) were falsified; while the criminal prosecution had to do with his religious activities and the fact that he had earlier been detained by US troops in Afghanistan and was kept at the Guantanamo Prison, from where he was released without charges. The initial verdict, based on the 2005 jury's unanimous acquittal, was cancelled.
39. Shimkevich, Sergey Vladimirovich, the former manager of the Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Tomskneft" VNK, a subsidiary of the "Yukos" Oil Company, was sentences by two verdicts handed down in 2010 and 2011 to 13 years in prison on charges of embezzlement, legalization (laundering) of money, and fraud. The inquiry and the trial had a one-sided and biased character: for example, no reception by Mr Shimkevich personally of any money from his alleged actions was ever proved. Sergey Shimkevich fell victim to persecution of the management of the "Yukos" Oil Company and convicted for political reasons.