Meet Arseny Turbin, a 16-year-old from the Oryol region of Russia, some 300 miles south of Moscow. But instead of attending school each day, he has spent the last six months in pre-trial detention near Moscow, following conviction in June of “terror offenses.” He is soon to be moved to a juvenile correctional colony, where he will serve out a five-year sentence. [Anna Chernova, Madalena Araujo and Alex Marquardt, CNN, December 5, 2024.]

Arseny is one of at least 35 minors who have been the victims of politically-motivated criminal charges since 2009, of which 23 cases have arisen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His “crime”: allegedly joining the Freedom of Russia Legion, a paramilitary unit of Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine. He admits having contacted the group at some point, but says he never joined. His appeal of the five-year sentence was, of course, denied. [Id.]

His mother, Irina Turbina, describes Arseny as “. . . just a kid, he has been different since early childhood.” She says he has “a love for books and studying . . . [and likes to] delve into everything.” [Id.]

Never afraid to speak his mind, in April of 2023 he called in to a live show on TV Rain — an independent network operating outside of Russia — and voiced his disappointment in President Vladimir Putin, saying that “Human rights are being violated.”

His mother said that on June 12, 2023, he staged a solo protest, handing out leaflets reading “I am against Putin” and “freedom for political prisoners.” When she tried to discourage him, he told her not to worry as he was not violating any laws.

But on August 29, 2023, they were visited by officers of the FSB, who searched the apartment and confiscated a tablet, a laptop, and cell phones. In September he was placed under house arrest, but was allowed to attend school. And in the fall of 2023, he was designated as a “terrorist and extremist” on the rolls of the Russian financial monitoring agency . . . thus sealing his fate.

This year — on June 20, 2024, he was officially sentenced. [Id.]

Since being held in detention, he informs his mother that he has lost 33 pounds because he cannot eat. He was moved to a different cell after becoming the victim of violence from fellow inmates. He describes the situation to his mother as “very difficult, critical” [id.], and writes the following:

Irina Turbina tells CNN that when she received this letter, “I cried because I understand that I am already doing the best I can. But I know it’s not enough, and that I can’t change the system.” [Id.]

*. *. *

This is how Russia treats its dissidents, regardless of age, intent, or any consideration of the possibility of innocence. This boy — who was just 14 years old when he made the statements that brought him to the attention of the authorities — has not killed or injured anyone, stolen anything, or even damaged property. He has done nothing but voice an opinion. But he has spoken out against Vladimir Putin’s war of attrition against Ukraine.

And in today’s Russia — Putin’s Russia — that is a cardinal sin.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/11/24