Russia court sentences poets for reading anti-war poetry News
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Russia court sentences poets for reading anti-war poetry

Two poets, Artyom Kamadarin and Yegor Shtovba, are still imprisoned, as of Friday, on account of reading anti-war poems. This has been an ongoing matter since December 2023, in which a Moscow court sentenced Kamardin to seven years and Shtovba to five and a half years in prison.

The Russian court declared both poets’ participation in an anti-war event led to a criminal investigation and eventually criminal charges, under Articles 282(2)(v) and 280.4(3) of the Criminal Code, “calling for actions aimed against the State security” for “inciting hatred or enmity or humiliating the dignity of a person or a group of persons, committed by an organised group.”

The UN raised concerns with Russia’s constant lack of freedom of expression and using legislation and the judicial system to further this ongoing tyranny against individuals, subsequently harming the rule of law. Mariana Katazrova, the UN special Rapporteur said, “The sentence by the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow reveals systemic issues concerning the integrity of law enforcement and judicial systems in Russia and their use to suppress dissent and criticism, especially regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

This is significant because this is not a singular event. In September 2022, Russia was reported to have used prison cells to conduct torture on a Ukrainian soldier. This can be seen in the current case at hand, where Amnesty International found Kamardin “was reportedly subjected to torture, including sexualized violence,” which goes against international laws, such as the European Convention on Human Rights Article 3, making torture illegal.

This reign of constant abuse of power from the state is facilitated by the lack of checks and balances by each branch, subsequently allowing tyranny and the downfall of the rule of law. Without independent oversight from the judiciary or meaningful accountability mechanisms, the state is able to act without restraint, silencing opposition and undermining fundamental human rights, which are essential to maintaining a fair and just legal system.

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