MOSCOW, Jan 24, 2025 (Freedom Person)
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Russia has systematically violated its international human rights obligations, including guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and the right to a fair trial. This trend has been particularly evident since 2014, with the launch of an aggressive repressive campaign targeting human rights defenders, activists, and citizens expressing dissent against state policies. The tightening of legislation, such as the adoption of the "foreign agents" law in 2012 and Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code in 2022, has significantly curtailed the space for civil society and freedom of expression.
The use of criminal law to suppress free speech and limit the activities of lawyers and journalists is especially alarming. Laws adopted by the Russian government are weaponized to persecute those who criticize state actions, aiming to silence dissent, in direct contradiction to international standards.
The actions of the Russian government directly contravene its obligations under international treaties, including:
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
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Article 19: Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, or through any other media of one’s choice.
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Article 14: Everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal established by law.
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR):
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Article 10: Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. Restrictions are permitted only in the interests of national security, public safety, or the protection of others’ rights.
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Article 6: Everyone has the right to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.
The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998):
- Human rights defenders have the right to freely express their views, seek, receive, and disseminate information and ideas about human rights.
The criminal prosecution of human rights defenders, as in the case of Dmitry Talantov, violates these principles.
The Case of Lawyer Dmitry Talantov: How a Russian Attorney Ended Up in Prison
One glaring example of human rights violations is the criminal prosecution of Russian lawyer Dmitry Talantov.
Background:
Dmitry Nikolayevich Talantov is a Russian lawyer with over 40 years of legal experience. Born in 1960 in Izhevsk, he graduated from Udmurt State University and began his legal career in the 1980s. He worked as a judge in the late 1980s before returning to private legal practice. Since 2002, he has served as the head of the Bar Association of the Udmurt Republic.
Talantov gained widespread recognition for defending journalist Ivan Safronov, who was accused of high treason. In 2022, Talantov published anti-war posts on social media criticizing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, including events in Bucha, Irpin, and Mariupol. These posts became the basis for criminal charges against him under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code (“dissemination of fake news about the Russian army”) and Article 282 (“incitement of hatred”). Earlier, he faced administrative charges for “discrediting” the Russian armed forces after stating that war supporters had no place in the legal profession.
On June 28, 2022, Talantov was detained in Izhevsk and transferred to Moscow, where he was placed in pretrial detention. His trial began in January 2023, and the prosecution sought a 12-year prison sentence.
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Public Response
Talantov's arrest sparked outrage among international human rights organizations and the legal community in Russia.
Over 500 lawyers in Russia signed an open letter in his defense. Representatives of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers requested that Talantov not be remanded in custody, but the court ruled that, given his knowledge of the legal system, he could allegedly continue “criminal activities” or flee.
Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience, and Memorial Human Rights Center declared him a political prisoner. UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, called for his acquittal and immediate release, highlighting the political nature of the case.
However, not only was he kept in pretrial detention, but the charges against him were also escalated to include “inciting hatred using his professional position.”
Related Articles: Elena Popova was sentenced in Russia to 12 years in prison for treason due to transferring funds
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Afterword
The case of Dmitry Talantov illustrates how Russia’s violations of international standards are used to suppress free speech and restrict human rights activities. It is a glaring example of state pressure on lawyers, jeopardizing the right to a fair trial and access to justice. Talantov’s prosecution not only breaches international norms but undermines the rule of law itself.
Despite widespread public outcry and involvement from international human rights organizations, on November 28, 2024, the Zavialovsky District Court of Udmurtia sentenced Talantov to 7 years in a general-regime penal colony and banned him from administering websites for 4 years.
Excerpts from Dmitry Talantov's Final Statement:
"Thoughts are like dreams; dreams are like thoughts. This goes on 24 hours a day, for two and a half years. You cannot escape these thoughts. These same thoughts, going in circles—perhaps just one or two thoughts—simply destroy you.
Sometimes, I wonder: what about the others who are detained in this facility? Do they feel as burdened as I do? Or do they feel differently? I’m talking about those who committed ordinary crimes—murder, rape, theft. Is it easier or harder for them? I’m talking about people who know 'why' they’re here."
— Dmitry Talantov, November 28, 2024
by V. Ivanenko, Human Rights Defender
