Russian poets Artyom Kamardin and Yegor Shtovba were jailed for participating in an anti-war poetry reading event in Moscow last year. This action has raised concerns about freedom of expression in Russia.
Artyom Kamardin and Yegor Shtovba were detained last year for taking part in an event in Moscow, Russia.
Artyom Kamardin was sentenced to seven years, while Yegor Shtovba received a five-and-a-half-year sentence for charges of “inciting hatred” against Russian troops and making “appeals against state security.” Both individuals maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings.
Their cases are the latest in a series that human rights organizations have strongly criticized as a severe crackdown on dissent within Russia. Another participant in the poetry reading, Nikolai Dayneko, had previously received a four-year sentence earlier in the year after admitting guilt and cooperating with the investigation.
During the Mayakovsky Readings on September 25, 2022, Kamardin, aged 33, recited a poem at Triumfalnaya Square in central Moscow. The event, a longstanding gathering attracting dissidents and activists, took place following President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a “partial mobilization” campaign for the war in Ukraine. In his poem, Kamardin crudely criticized Russian imperialism in southern Ukraine and invoked the phrase “Glory to the Kievan Rus,” referring to the 9th-century Slavonic state with Kyiv as its capital.
Upon Kamardin’s arrest, his wife Alexandra Popova recounted a harrowing experience to the BBC, describing how police forcibly entered their home the following day. She detailed being dragged across the floor by her hair while officers applied superglue stickers to her face, threatening to seal her mouth shut. She also heard her husband being subjected to physical assault in another room while officers discussed appalling acts.
Kamardin’s attorney alleged that his client was subjected to sexual assault by the police using a dumbbell before coercing him into making an apology video.
Before the sentencing, the two defendants addressed the court. Shtovba, 23, claimed innocence regarding accusations of inciting hatred against troops involved in the Ukraine conflict, stating that his attendance at the Mayakovsky Readings was his first and that he had merely applauded performances without any evidence to support the allegations.
During his plea, Kamardin appealed for a suspended sentence, citing the prevalent practice of judging individuals based on their opinions in contemporary Russia and expressing his anticipation of being wrongfully convicted despite his innocence.
Witnesses reported that supporters in the Moscow courtroom reacted with cries of “Shame!” upon hearing the sentences.
The Mayakovsky Readings, sporadically held since 1958, involved gatherings where individuals congregated around poet Vladimir Mayakovsky’s statue to recite poems often critical of the Soviet Union. In the 1960s, many organizers were accused of anti-Soviet activities and sentenced to lengthy terms in the gulags. Though revived in 2009, the group ceased its activities in October 2022, citing concerns over “military censorship and mobilization” that rendered it unsafe for participants.
Under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, there has been an extensive crackdown on domestic dissent, coinciding with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent cases include the sentencing of anti-war activist Sasha Skochilenko to seven years in a penal colony for altering supermarket price labels with anti-war messages. Additionally, opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza received a 25-year prison sentence related to criticisms of the Ukrainian conflict, while Moscow council member Alexei Gorinov was imprisoned for seven years for criticizing the invasion during a city council session.
Numerous other critics of Putin’s administration have also been imprisoned, with a notable increase following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
It’s a stark reminder of the challenges faced by artists and activists who dare to challenge the status quo. It’s a situation that demands our attention and solidarity. The power of words and art should never be underestimated, and these poets are a testament to that. Let’s stand with them and continue to fight for the freedom of expression for all. Stay tuned for updates on this important issue!
Source: BBC News
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