Maykop resident declared prisoner of conscience

The human rights project "Support for political prisoners. Memorial" has recognized Stanislav Shevchenko, a resident of Maykop (the capital of Adygea), as a political prisoner. He was sentenced to four years in colony for justifying terrorism online.

Agents of the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service) have seen in the 39-year-old Shevchenko’s statements justification for the terror act on the Crimean Bridge and the burning of a mat at the FSB building in the Krasnodar Territory.

In January 2025, the Shevchenko's case was received by the Military Court of Appeal, which upheld the sentence. The convict is held at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of Rostov-on-Don.

The human rights project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial" has pointed out that the case against Stanislav Shevchenko violates his rights to the freedom of speech and a fair trial.

In the opinion of human rights defenders, Shevchenko's actions cannot be qualified under the article on justifying terrorism, and his prosecution has to do his pacifist civic position.

"Even if his statement posed at least some danger to the society, it could be treated as minimal threat. Depriving Shevchenko of freedom for four years is a disproportionately severe punishment," says the project’s statement.