Vyacheslav Lutor is a political prisoner
A St. Petersburg resident has been sentenced to 10 years in a strict-regime penal colony on a charge of intending to join the Free Russia Legion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Vyacheslav Lutor a political prisoner. Lutor has been convicted on charges of preparing to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation, to commit treason by going over to the enemy, and also of collusion with a representative of a foreign state for allegedly intending to join the Free Russia Legion which fights alongside Ukraine. Lutor’s criminal prosecution and conviction violate his right to a fair trial. We demand that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Vyacheslav Lutor?
Vyacheslav Lutor, a 34-year-old bank employee from St. Petersburg, was detained at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport on 8 July 2023 from where he intended to fly to Turkey. Lutor was then twice jailed on administrative-law charges of ‘minor hooliganism’ and ‘disobeying police officers’.
On 29 July 2023, Lutor was again detained. He was then remanded in custody on criminal charges of preparing to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 205.5, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code), preparing to commit treason (Article 30, Part 1, in conjunction with Article 275), and collusion with a representative of a foreign state (Article 275.1). According to the prosecution, Vyacheslav Lutor intended to join the Free Russia Legion. To this end he had, allegedly, contacted via Telegram a ‘representative of Ukraine’ (who has not been identified by the investigative authorities) at whose request he photographed buildings belonging to the Almaz-Antei corporation, a service for which he was allegedly paid. Later, the same ‘representative’ transferred money to him to buy combat boots and air tickets to Turkey.
During his first interrogation, Lutor admitted the charges. However, in court, he denied his guilt and claimed he had not initiated contact with a ‘representative of Ukraine’ but had been a victim of a provocation by the security services. Lutor stated he had planned to leave Russia for Poland and find work there and had no intention of joining the Free Russia Legion.
On 28 February 2024, a military court sentenced Vyacheslav Lutor to 10 years’ imprisonment, with the first two years to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict-regime penal colony. The sentence was upheld on appeal.
Why do we consider Lutor a political prisoner?
Even if Vyacheslav Lutor had intended to join the Free Russia Legion, his actions do not constitute a crime. We consider the court’s decision to designate the Free Russia Legion as a terrorist organisation unlawful. The Legion is part of the Ukrainian armed forces and as such is therefore a legitimate participant in the conflict, opposing Russia’s aggression against a sovereign state.
We believe that the charge of preparing to commit treason is also unfounded. While international law prohibits foreigners from participating in combat as mercenaries, Lutor’s actions do not fall under the definition of ‘mercenarism’ in international law.
Charging Lutor simultaneously with preparing to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation and preparing to commit treason contradicts logic and common sense. If Lutor’s actions are considered to be ‘going over to the enemy’, the Free Russia Legion is thereby recognised as part of the Ukrainian armed forces, and not as a terrorist organisation.
The article criminalising ‘collusion’ with a foreign state does not comply with the principle of legal certainty and should be removed from the Russian Criminal Code. All criminal cases brought under this article should be closed.
The circumstances of Lutor’s arrest and the investigation of his case point to a possible provocation by law enforcement agents. Operational measures were carried out in violation of the law and the investigative authorities, and the court did not even try to identify Lutor’s interlocutor on Telegram.
A more detailed description of Vyacheslav Lutor’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 a letter to Vyacheslav Lutor at the following address:
In Russian:
399783, Липецкая область, Елец, ул. Пролетарская, д. 1Б, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Липецкой области, Лутору Вячеславу Александровичу 1990 г. р.
In English:
Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Lutor (born 1990), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Lipetsk Oblast, 1B Proletarskaya Street, Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, 399783, Russia.
You can also send an e-mail via ZT (for payments with Russian cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
