Global-Affair.net

Responding to the draconian sentences issued against young activists prosecuted for their actual or perceived affiliation with the Russian youth democratic movement Vesna (Spring), Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:

“Today’s verdict reveals how the Russian judicial system continues to rubber-stamp politically motivated reprisals. The charges brought against these young people were so outlandish, so blatantly fabricated, and the “evidence” presented so weak, that the only reasonable thing for the court to do was to throw the case out at the very start. Instead, the court handed down prison sentences, punishing the young people for expressing their views, and for their civic engagement and anti-war activism. This verdict lays bare that the Russian authorities treat principled anti-war activism as a crime, branding it as “extremism”.

The charges brought against these young people were so outlandish, so blatantly fabricated, and the “evidence” presented so weak, that the only reasonable thing for the court to do was to throw the case out at the very start

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director

“All co-defendants in the Vesna case must be immediately and unconditionally released and the verdict overturned. Russian authorities must end their abuse of criminal legislation to silence dissent and adhere to their obligations under international human rights law, including full respect for the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.”

Background

On 8 April 2026, the St. Petersburg City Court delivered its verdict in the case against six young activists the authorities believe to be members of the youth democratic movement Vesna.

The court issued severe prison terms: 12 years for Anna Arkhipova, 11 years for Yan Ksenzhepolsky, 10 years for Vasiliy Neustroev and, 7.5 years for Pavel Sinelnikov, 6 years and 2 months for Evgeniy Zateev and Valentin Khoroshenin. In addition, the court imposed lengthy post-release bans on taking part in public events and online publication. Amnesty International has designated Anna Arkhipova, Vasiliy Neustroev, Yan Ksenzhepolsky, Evgeniy Zateev and Pavel Sinelnikov as prisoners of conscience

The six activists were detained on 6 June 2023 in different cities, transferred to Moscow and placed in pre-trial detention. They faced multiple charges including organizing and participating in an “extremist community,” “disseminating false information about the Armed Forces,” “disrespect for days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia,” “public calls for activities deemed to threaten state security” and “incitement to organize mass unrest” based largely on social media posts and public statements opposing the war in Ukraine. Valentin Khoroshenin is the only one who pleaded guilty to the charges and testified against his co-defendants. At least 15 other alleged Vesna members have left Russia and are on police “wanted” lists.

The post Russia: Imprisoned young anti-war activists must be immediately and unconditionally released   appeared first on Amnesty International.

Chinese authorities must ensure that Yu Wensheng is allowed to reunite with his family in Beijing without restrictions, Amnesty International said ahead of the human rights lawyer’s expected release from prison following a baseless “subversion” conviction.

Human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng is due to be released on 13 April after completing a three-year sentence for “inciting subversion of state power”. He was arrested on 13 April 2023, alongside his wife Xu Yan, while on their way to meet European Union officials in Beijing.

“If and when Yu Wensheng walks out of prison next week, his freedom cannot be partial. He must be allowed to return home, reunite with his family and resume his life and his work without surveillance, intimidation or other restrictions on his rights,” Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said.

In research released last year, focused on the application by Chinese courts of national security provisions to target human rights defenders, Amnesty International found that in 38 of the 68 cases reviewed – including Yu’s – the defendant had been sentenced to “deprivation of political rights” following the end of their prison sentence. This so-called “supplemental” sentence violates international standards; in practice, it is used to justify ongoing harassment of activists to ensure they do not continue human rights work.

“Yu Wensheng was punished for defending people from alleged abuses of power and advocating for a fairer, more accountable system. He should never have been jailed in the first place, and his persecution must end the moment he is released.”

Yu Wensheng previously served four years in prison between 2018 and 2022. Xu has said that during that time, she and her son faced surveillance and harassment by the authorities. She has reported that these activities continued during the current imprisonment, resulting in serious mental health impacts on their son, including since her release in January 2025.

“The suffering inflicted on Yu Wensheng’s family is a reminder of how China’s repression extends far beyond those it imprisons. The past impacts of this repression can never be undone, but the harm being done now can be stopped.”

Yu Wensheng and Xu Yan are prominent advocates for rule of law and human rights in China and have faced government harassment for years. Yu developed a profile as one of the best known and most vocal critics of human rights in the country, based on his experience seeking to defend victims of injustice and human rights violations.

“Yu Wensheng’s imprisonment was a clear attempt to send a warning to others in China who dare to defend human rights. Yet despite the government’s heavy-handed tactics, human rights defenders have refused to be silenced,” Sarah Brooks said.

Amnesty International, alongside 24 NGOs, is calling on the Chinese authorities to ensure that Yu Wensheng is released without delay after serving his sentence, reunited with his family in Beijing, and able to freely exercise his human rights.

Read our joint statement.

The post China: Human rights lawyer jailed over planned EU meeting must be truly free after release appeared first on Amnesty International.