The President of the “Memorial” Center of the Republic of Karelia and the Russian historian Yuriy Dmitriev, who is serving 15 years in a colony in the Republic of Mordovia, was sent to a colony for 15 days, “Memorial” reports with reference to “Sever Real” and Rador.

The reason is that 67-year-old Dmitriev was sitting on the bed during the day (he was in the sleeping area). According to human rights activists, after the last treatment, Dmitriev became ill, had a headache, and sat down on the prison bed.

The inspector who observed this moment made a report on him stating that “during the day he was in the sleeping area and sat on the bed.”

Yuriy Dmitriev has been in custody for the seventh year. In total, he spent a little more than a month in prison, the rest, according to human rights defenders, in the SIZO. Recently, the historian Dmitrieva was refused the transfer of a 20-kilogram package from her family.

The first criminal case against Yuriy Dmitriev was initiated in 2016. The historian was accused of child pornography involving his adopted daughter. The court acquitted Dmitriev, but in 2018 a new case was opened against him, this time accusing, in addition to pornography, sexual violence against his daughter, indecent acts and illegal possession of weapons.

Two years later, Dmitriev was found guilty of violent acts and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. Later, the recording was acquitted of charges of manufacturing and possession of pornographic materials, indecent acts, and even possession of weapons.

Instead of release, the term of punishment is extended

Taking into account the time spent in custody, Dmitriev should have been released in November. But in September 2020, the Supreme Court of Karelia unexpectedly strengthened Dmitriev’s sentence on appeal, extending it to 13 years with serving the sentence in a high-security prison.

The decision of the Supreme Court also annulled acquittals on other charges, and the case was sent for a new trial. Taking into account the last decision of the Petrozavodsk City Court, the term of punishment was extended to 15 years.

The historian denies all the accusations. His supporters are sure that all the cases against him are fabricated by the authorities in revenge for his human rights activities.

Dmitriev is known as one of the most important researchers and the one who discovered the largest mass grave and burial place of victims of political repression in the Republic of Karelia. The Union of Journalists of Karelia and well-known cultural figures of Russia came to his defense.