«Freedom for MSU political prisoners D. Ivanov and A. Miftakhov», — reads the banner that appeared on the monument. Ivanov and Miftakhov — former MSU students, are in colonies on political charges.
In January 2021, mathematician Azat Miftakhov was sentenced to six years in a colony on charges of hooliganism. According to the investigation, in 2018, anarchists broke a window of the «United Russia» office in the Khimki district of Moscow, threw a smoke grenade inside, and posted a video online. A secret witness, questioned a year after the case was opened, claimed to have identified Miftakhov by his «expressive eyebrows». The anarchist himself denied participating in the action.
In September 2023, Miftakhov was released after serving his term, but was re-arrested right at the gates of the colony. He was placed in a pre-trial detention center on charges of «justifying terrorism» due to a conversation with cellmates.
In March 2024, the court sentenced him to four years in prison, assigning one year more than the prosecution requested.
In March 2023, the author of the «Protest MSU» channel, Dmitry Ivanov, was sentenced to 8 years and 3 months in a colony on charges of military «fakes» due to publications about Russia's war crimes in Mariupol.
According to «OVD-Info»**, to date, 145 students are being persecuted for their stance, 43 of whom are currently in custody.
* Listed as «terrorists and extremists».
** Recognized as «foreign agents» in Russia.
Photo: Astra