Ihor Mozho is a political prisoner
The Ukrainian national has been sentenced to five years and six months in a general regime penal colony for serving in the Aidar Battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ihor Mozho a political prisoner. Mozho was convicted of participating in a terrorist organisation for serving in an official unit of the Ukrainian army. Mozho’s prosecution violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate end of criminal proceedings against Ihor Mozho and that the norms of international law be respected in his case.
What were the charges against Ihor Mozho?
Ihor Mozho from Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast was prosecuted on a charge of participating in a terrorist organisation (Article 205.4, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code) for serving in the Ukrainian Aidar Battalion. The specific time he served in the military, as well as the circumstances and location of his arrest, remain unknown.
On 24 July 2024, a court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Mozho to five years and six months’ imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Ihor Mozho a political prisoner?
Mozho was not prosecuted for any specific acts of violence, but simply for serving in the Aidar Battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Decisions designating the Aidar Battalion as a terrorist organisation were made in 2016 in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR] and the Luhansk People’s Republic [LPR]. These decisions are legally void as the DPR and LPR are entities themselves established unlawfully. In Russia, the Aidar Battalion was designated a terrorist group only in September 2023. However, all these designations apply only to the Aidar Battalion and not to the 24th Separate Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian armed forces — an official unit of the Ukrainian army.
We do not know whether Mozho was on active service when he was detained. If he was, his prosecution is in gross violation of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the prosecution of combatants for participating in armed conflict and the use of collective punishment. If he was not a combatant, his prosecution violates the provisions of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which explicitly forbid the criminal prosecution of residents of occupied territories under the laws of the occupying power.
A detailed description of Ihor Mozho’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves of, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Ihor Mozho at the following address:
RU: 603108, г. Нижний Новгород, ул. Ракетная, д. 2Д, ФКУ ИК-5 ГУФСИН России по Нижегородской области, Мозго Игорю Александровичу, 1987 г. р.
EN: Ihor Oleksandrovych Mozho (born 1987), Penal Colony No. 5, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, 2D Raketnaya Street, Nizhny Novgorod, 603108, Russia.
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with Russian bank cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
