Political Persecutions in Russia: Portraits of Prisoners

Political Persecutions in Russia: Portraits of Prisoners

Author: The Moscow Times December 1, 2023 Duration: 44:55
The number of politically motivated cases in Russia has significantly risen over the past five years, reaching a record of 700 cases in 2022, the first year of the war in Ukraine. Today, more than 1,000 people are in jail or prison in Russia for political reasons, according to the human rights media project OVD-Info. But these numbers don’t give the full picture of what happens to those who do not agree with Russian policies. In this episode we will discuss the people who are politically persecuted: their profile, the reasons for their persecution, how the Russian justice system treats them, and how the war in Ukraine has changed political prosecutions. Joining us are lawyer Olga Podoplelova, OVD-Info analyst Dariya Korolenko and OVD-Info's English-language editor Dan Storyev. The projects and stories mentioned in this episode can be found here: OVD-Info’s weekly Dissident Digest: https://en.ovdinfo.org/dissident-digest Letters Across Borders, OVD-Info’s letter-writing tool: https://en.ovdinfo.org/write-letters OVD-Info’s database of political persecution in Russia: https://en.ovdinfo.org/data-politically-motivated-criminal-prosecutions-russia Yegor Balazeikin, the 17-year-old imprisoned for six years, featured in the Dissident Digest: https://redir.ovd.info/nl3/d2gqjtYIXy4f2E60epLkJw Vladimir Rumyantsev, an elderly boiler operator sentenced to three years for an anti-war radio broadcast, featured on OVD-Info: https://en.ovdinfo.org/between-disgusting-and-scary-old-dissidents-life-letter-detention-centre Activist Lev Skoryakin, kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan, featured in the Dissident Digest: https://redir.ovd.info/nl3/OpTT8uPu0e05g9mJGkKErg?_gl=1*76ddnx*_ga*NjcxNzE3NjQuMTY5MzIyNTExMA..*_ga_J7DH9NKJ0R*MTcwMTE5ODczNS40Ny4xLjE3MDExOTkwNzUuNTguMC4w Sasha Skochilenko in the Dissident Digest: https://redir.ovd.info/nl3/1LffHBoZJjMV0MSyAL5Kjg?_gl=1*18bhdcm*_ga*NjcxNzE3NjQuMTY5MzIyNTExMA..*_ga_J7DH9NKJ0R*MTcwMTE5ODczNS40Ny4xLjE3MDExOTkwODUuNDguMC4w Interview with Ilya Yashin: https://en.ovdinfo.org/ilya-yashin-interview

Produced by the seasoned journalists of The Moscow Times, Russia on the Record offers a vital and nuanced perspective from the ground. As the oldest independent English-language news outlet dedicated to the region, our team provides context that goes far beyond the headlines. This isn't about quick takes or recycled analysis; it's about deep, thoughtful conversation. Every episode features candid discussions with a range of voices-from leading policy experts and academics to everyday citizens navigating life's complexities. We delve into the political, social, and cultural forces actively shaping the nation, aiming to untangle the how and why behind current events. By listening to this podcast, you gain access to reflective journalism that prioritizes explanation over simple narration, building a clearer understanding of a country constantly in flux. The conversations are direct, the insights are substantive, and the goal is to put the evolving story of modern Russia into sharper focus, one detailed conversation at a time. We record these discussions to provide a lasting resource for anyone seeking a more informed, independent take on a part of the world that demands careful attention.
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