Mikhail Simonov

Extra Bio Info:

Mikhail Simonov is imprisoned for criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine with religious language.

On November 9, 2022, authorities in Moscow arrested Simonov over two social media posts he made expressing opposition to Russia's military actions in Ukraine. In response to reported Russian bombings of Kyiv and Mariupol, Simonov wrote in March 2022, "Killing children and women, on Channel One we sing songs. We, Russia, have become godless. Forgive us, Lord!"; and "Russian pilots are bombing children."

On March 30, 2023, the Timiryazevsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Simonov to seven years in prison for "public dissemination, under the guise of credible statements, of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in order to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens [and] maintain international peace and security, as well as about the exercise by state bodies of the Russian Federation of their powers outside the territory of the Russian Federation for those purposes…for reasons of political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or for reasons of hatred or enmity against any social group" (Art. 207.3-2d RCC).

On July 25, 2023, the Moscow City Court rejected Simonov's appeal.

On January 18, 2024, the Second Court of Cassation reduced Simonov's sentence by six months to six years and six months in prison.

Simonov reportedly suffers from coronary heart disease and hypertension. He has also reported blood pressure issues and headaches while detained, and he has allegedly lost consciousness several times.