Sergey Veselov — more than 150 days in punishment cell

Over the past six months, Sergey Veselov — an engineer, activist, and blogger from Shuya — has spent more than 160 of 182 days in a punishment cell and solitary confinement. He also spent his 55th birthday, which was the 28th of March, in a punishment cell.

Veselov is being persecuted for his anti-war stance: 5 criminal cases have been opened against him on charges of “discrediting” the armed forces and “vandalism.” Most of these cases are for “discrediting”: according to the investigation, the activist published anti-war videos on his YouTube channel, which had 17 subscribers. The “vandalism” charge refers to the inscription of “No to war” on the building of the city administration. These are Sergey’s words that formed the basis of one of the criminal cases against him:
“I remain of the opinion that water is wet, grass is green, the sky is blue, and war is war, and in war people are killed.”

The court sentenced Sergey to 7 years in a general-regime penal colony.

During his imprisonment, Sergey was held in a punishment cell or solitary confinement for months almost without interruption. From the 10th of March to the 10th of May, he spent 62 consecutive days in a punishment cell, received only a two-day “respite,” and on the 13th of May he was again placed in solitary confinement for an indefinite period.

In February, after another 2 months in isolation, Veselov reported that he continued to be held in a single cell in the punishment cell block, although he had not been formally placed there.

In the punishment cell, Sergey was deprived of basic necessities: adequate food, hygiene items, and laundry detergent. Walks, parcels, and any form of communication — with other prisoners or with the outside world — were prohibited. He was completely isolated: visits and phone calls were banned. Letters were formally permitted, but often simply not delivered. He could not even contact his elderly mother.

More information about what a punishment cell is and how it is used to exert pressure on prisoners can be found in our article.

Sergey has chronic medical conditions — hypertension, osteochondrosis, and prostate hypertrophy. These diagnoses are incompatible with conditions of isolation, and prolonged confinement has already led to exacerbations. Despite this, Sergey was not examined by a doctor and did not receive medical care; only occasionally was he given medication sent by his mother.

In addition to constant placement in a punishment cell, other forms of pressure were applied to Sergey. He was prohibited from using a radio, letters were withheld from him for several months, and he was unable to order food and essential goods from the Federal Penitentiary Service store.

Together with you, we sent more than 2,100 appeals in an effort to stop violations of Sergey’s rights. And this helped!

Sergey is currently not in solitary confinement, and this is already a victory. He can once again communicate with his elderly mother, receive letters, and a support group has purchased food for him from the Federal Penitentiary Service store.

However, we do not know how long this respite will last. Unfortunately, Sergey has already been released from solitary confinement before, only to be returned there again. We have temporarily suspended the collection of signatures, but we continue to closely monitor the situation and will seek an end to the pressure against him.

What else can be done right now?

Write a letter to Sergey through our “Vestochka” service. After so many days of isolation, words of support will be especially important to him.

Unfortunately, this is not the end. Sergey continues to serve his sentence, and the investigation is still ongoing. He may be placed back in a punishment cell or solitary confinement at any moment. You can help Sergey and other politically persecuted individuals by signing up for a recurring donation. Thanks to donations from our supporters, we are able to pay for Sergey’s legal defense. Thanks to you, thousands of people have learned about this story, and we continue to draw public attention to it.