In Moscow, Judge Maxim Ivanov of the 2nd Western District Military Court has sentenced the 32-year-old photographer Alexander Strukov to a further six years in prison, finding him guilty of “justifying terrorism.”
In November 2023, Strukov received an eight-year sentence for posting online comments in March 2022 under the news articles on Russia’s war in Ukraine. As his initial trial concluded, he shouted: “Glory to Ukraine!” and “Death to Putin!”—and that formed the basis of this new criminal case against him. According to Strukov’s lawyer, the new ruling ultimately adds a year and a half to his existing prison term.
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“I do not consider myself an extremist, a terrorist, or guilty of anything,” Strukov said in his closing statement. “I am not at all ashamed of the anti-war and anti-state comments I wrote in the past. I am not ashamed of the political statement I made in court. I do not repent, I do not intend to change my views or reform, and I will not pay the fine if it is imposed.”
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According to the official record, after the verdict was announced, Strukov demanded his Russian citizenship be revoked so he could obtain a Ukrainian passport. He also shouted “Glory to Ukraine!”, called military veterans “bad names” and wished them dead, insulted the judges who convicted him, and wished the Ukrainian military good luck.
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The secretary of one of the judges from the first trial testified as a witness. He recalled that Strukov first told the judges to “go to hell,” then shouted “Glory to Ukraine” and expressed a desire for Russian soldiers to die there. According to the secretary, it was only after the sentencing concluded that Strukov said “death to Putin.” They noted that the last phrase was uttered after the hearing was closed, which is why it was not included in the minutes.
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The photographer has continued to face pressure since his transfer to Penal Colony No 4 (IK-4) in the Tver region. He has been placed in solitary confinement several times and, despite suffering from asthma and bronchitis, assigned to “dusty factory work”.
His case file includes a report from the IK-4 administration alleging that Strukov has violated the penal colony’s rules eight times. The administration claims he is not seeking rehabilitation and struggles to meet quotas at his prison job making souvenirs. Prison officials have officially registered him as an inmate “spreading extremism” who is prone to “terrorist crimes”.
What a motherfucking G.