Dmitry Alexandrovich Ivanov Explained

Dmitry Alexandrovich Ivanov (Russian: Дмитрий Александрович Иванов, born on August 5, 1999, Moscow) is a Russian programmer, civil activist, creator of the Telegram channel "Protest MSU”, and correspondent for . On March 7, 2023, the Timiryazevsky Court in Moscow found Ivanov guilty under the fake news law and sentenced him to 8 and a half years of imprisonment in a correctional facility .[1] As of 2023, Amnesty International has recognized Ivanov as a "prisoner of conscience”,[2] and the Memorial Society has listed him among political prisoners in Russia.[3]

Early life and education

Dmitry Ivanov was born on August 5, 1999, in Moscow.[4] In 2017, Ivanov enrolled at Lomonosov Moscow State University at the Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics.[5] His active participation in the political life of the country prevented him from attending academic classes regularly. Consequently, in 2020, he was compelled to take academic leave in his third year of study.[6] In 2022, Ivanov was supposed to graduate and obtain his diploma. On April 28, 2022, he was detained as he exited the university premises.[7] During the trial, sought a reduction in the term of his administrative arrest, citing an upcoming final state exam scheduled for June 1. Despite the motion, the court denied the request, and Ivanov remained under arrest until June 2. Throughout his period of administrative detention, Ivanov, via legal representation, filed applications to postpone both the state exam and thesis defense day. However, these requests were rejected, as the university mandated the student's physical presence. On July 1, 2022, Dmitry Ivanov was expelled from Lomonosov Moscow State University. While he had completed the curriculum requirements, he had not successfully passed the state final certification.[8] [9]  

Political activity

Since 2017, Ivanov has been involved in various public campaigns, advocating for individuals such as Moscow State University graduate student Azat Miftakhov,[10] programmer Konstantin Kotov,[11] as well as those implicated in the and the Network Case.[12] He actively participated in anti-government demonstrations and provided assistance to detainees. Ivanov worked as a human rights defender, offering support to those detained at rallies, and facilitated communication between detainees and their families by visiting police departments.[13] [14]

In 2018, Dmitry Ivanov began anonymously running his Telegram channel "Protest MSU". Through this platform, he addressed issues concerning the university, particularly highlighting students' opposition to the placement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup fan zone beneath the windows of the main building of Moscow State University.[15] On December 16, 2018, during a "Meeting of Free Citizens", held in Lubyanka Square, Ivanov was detained by Alexei Okopny, an employee of the Centre for Combating Extremism, for taking photographs.[16] Ivanov endured physical assault, threats of sexual violence, and coercion to reveal the password to his phone.[17] When he refused to provide the password, the phone was destroyed. Consequently, access to the Telegram channel "Protest MSU" was lost.[18] On December 17, 2018, Ivanov re-launched the Telegram channel under its original name. His first post was about the torture he was subjected to, as well as information about himself. Following this incident, both the channel and Ivanov's identity became publicly known, leading to a surge in popularity. Subsequently, Ivanov faced frequent detentions at rallies, demonstrations, and upon leaving his house.[19]

Following Alexei Navalny's return to Russia and his subsequent arrest on January 18, 2021, a series of spontaneous protests and detentions took place across Russia for a month.[20] [21] According to the Russian Interior Ministry, the number of individuals detained during the rallies nationwide exceeded 17600 people.[22] As a result, there was an insufficient capacity in Moscow's specialized detention facilities to accommodate all those arrested. Ivanov himself was detained at a protest on February 2, 2021.[23] On February 3, the Meshchansky Court sentenced him to 30 days of arrest under Part 8 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. Alongside more than 500 others, Ivanov was transferred to serve his administrative detention at the Sakharovo Detention Center.[24] During his time at the Sakharovo Center, Ivanov faced additional charges under Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for shouting political slogans while detainees were walking. Upon the completion of 30 days of administrative arrest, Ivanov was detained again on his way out of the detention center. On March 5, 2021, the Troitsky Court imposed additional 10 days of arrest on Ivanov under Article 19.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation.[25] Overall, prior to facing criminal prosecution, Dmitry Ivanov spent 101 days under administrative arrest between 2020 and 2022.[26]

In 2021, Ivanov actively participated in the election campaign of Mikhail Lobanov, who was nominated by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation for a seat in the State Duma.[27] [28]

Criminal persecution

Following the eruption of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ivanov adopted a strong anti-war stance and participated in anti-war rallies.[29] On April 28, 2022, he was detained as he exited the Moscow State University building after completing an exam. He was taken to the Department of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Ramenki District.[30] The following day, Judge Maximov of the Nikulinsky District Court ordered Ivanov's arrest under Part 8 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation for one of his posts on the "Protest MSU" channel, citing his alleged involvement in organizing a protest.[31] Consequently, he was sent to serve his administrative arrest in the Sakharovo Center. Despite being released after 10 days of arrest, Ivanov was intercepted before reaching the gate by a waiting police car.[32] On May 8, 2022, he was detained once again and taken to the Department of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Tverskoy district. The following day, sentenced him to additional 25 days of arrest under Part 8 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation for reposting content from the Telegram channel "Navalny" regarding the organization of an anti-war protest on March 6.[33] Ivanov was sent to serve his administrative arrest at Special Reception Center No. 2 in the Khoroshyovo-Mnyovniki District.[34]

On the evening of June 2, 2022, Ivanov was scheduled to be released from the special detention center. However, he was unexpectedly escorted directly from his cell to the first department of the Investigative Committee of Russia,[35] where he was informed of the opening of a criminal case against him. On the same day, the apartments of Ivanov's friends and his mother were subjected to searches. Ivanov's mother and friends were also taken to the investigative committee. Three friends, his mother, and her husband were interviewed as witnesses in the case.[36]

The pre-investigative examination of the posts on the Telegram channel "Protest MSU" commenced on April 1, 2022. A psychological and linguistic forensic examination of the posts spanning from March 4, 2022, to April 4, 2022, was initiated.[37] On June 3, 2022, the Presnensky District Court remanded Ivanov to pre-trial detention for a period of 2 months until August 2, 2022.[38] Ivanov, maintaining his innocence, appealed the court's decision. On July 18, 2022, the Moscow City Court reviewed the appeal concerning the measure of restraint during the investigation, affirming the existing preventive measure. On July 19, 2022, he case was reclassified as an act committed without the involvement of other individuals. On July 21, 2022, the Presnensky District Court extended Ivanov's detention in the investigative isolator for an additional month until September 2, 2022.[39]

On August 5, 2022, the Timiryazevsky District Court extended Ivanov's detention in the investigative isolator by six months until February 3, 2023.[40]   On August 26, 2022, the first hearing scheduled in the Timiryazevsky District Court was postponed to September 21, 2022, as the convoy dailed to bring Ivanov to the court.[41] On September 21, 2022, the hearing began in the Timiryazevsky District Court. During the session, three prosecution witnesses were questioned. On October 5, 2022, a second hearing was held in the Timiryazevsky District Court. Two prosecution witnesses were questioned, including ex-deputy dean of the Faculty of Fundamental Physics and Chemical Engineering.[42] [43] On October 12, 2022, the Moscow City Court reviewed two appeals against the preventive measures issued by the Presnensky District Court to keep Ivanov in pre-trial detention until September 2, 2022, and by the Timiryazevsky District Court to keep him in pre-trial detention until February 3, 2023. Both measures of restraint on detention were left unchanged. On October 26, 2022, during the third hearing at the Timiryazevsky District Court, the prosecutor began reading through volumes of the criminal case file. On November 2, 2022, the fourth hearing took place, and the reading of the volumes of the criminal case file was completed.

On January 19, 2023, after another hearing, Ivanov was assaulted by an escort within the courthouse.[44] [45] The convoy also threatened Ivanov with sexual violence.[46]   On March 7, 2023, the Timiryazevsky Court convicted Dmitry Ivanov of disseminating "false information about the Russian armed forces" and sentenced him to 8,5 years in a penal colony.[47]

In 2022–2023, several public figures came forward to support Ivanov. Among them were Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief and Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov, journalist and reporter Andrei Loshak, journalist and film critic Anton Dolin, journalist and public figure Nikolai Svanidze, journalist, politician Marina Litvinovich, former head of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov, dissident and politician, co-founder of the Yabloko party Vladimir Lukin, writer and journalist, human rights activist and coordinator of the Russia Behind Bars Foundation Alla Frolova, actress Mariya Shalayeva, professor and academician, former vice president and executive director of Transparency International Elena Panfilova, politician, sociologist Grigory Yudin, film director Boris Khlebnikov, editor-in-chief of TV Rain channel Tikhon Dzyadko.[48]

On July 15, 2022, the human rights organization "Memorial" recognized Dmitri Ivanov as a political prisoner. On March 7, 2023, Amnesty International also acknowledged him as a "prisoner of conscience".

As of July 2024, he was transferred to Corrective Colony No. 3 in Tambov Oblast.[49]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-03-07 . Суд в Москве приговорил к 8,5 годам колонии автора канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрия Иванова из-за публикаций о войне в Украине . 2024-02-23 . Настоящее Время . ru.
  2. Web site: 2023-03-07 . Student blogger sentenced to long imprisonment in brutal repression of anti-war dissent in Russia . 2024-02-23 . Amnesty International . en.
  3. Web site: Иванов Дмитрий Александрович . 2024-02-23 . Поддержка политзаключённых. Мемориал . ru.
  4. Web site: 2023-03-01 . Портрет дня: Дмитрий Иванов – создатель телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" . 2024-02-23 . ЭХО . ru.
  5. Web site: 2023-03-01 . "Следствие сконструировало один большой фейк". Рассказываем о деле автора канала "Протестный МГУ", которого требуют посадить на 9 лет . 2024-02-23 . Настоящее Время . ru.
  6. Web site: История основателя телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрия Иванова — от активизма в школе до последнего суда . 2024-02-23 . www.groza.media . ru.
  7. Web site: В Москве на выходе из университета задержали администратора телеграм‑канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрия Иванова . 2024-02-23 . Медиазона . ru.
  8. Web site: 2023-03-07 . Студента оставили на девятый год . 2024-02-23 . Коммерсантъ . ru.
  9. News: "Подписываюсь под каждым словом, которое написал год назад". Автору канала "Протестный МГУ" дали больше восьми лет по делу о "военных фейках" . 2024-02-23 . BBC News Русская служба . ru.
  10. News: 2019-03-02 . В Москве на акции в поддержку Мифтахова задержаны трое . 2024-02-23 . Радио Свобода . ru.
  11. Web site: На сходе в поддержку арестованного аспиранта МГУ задержали четырех человек . 2024-02-23 . Афиша . ru.
  12. Web site: 2020-10-20 . Суд оставил без изменения приговор фигурантам дела "Сети" — За права человека . 2024-02-23 . ru-RU.
  13. Web site: Возле МГУ задержали организатора акции в поддержку Азата Мифтахова . 2024-02-23 . Медиазона . ru.
  14. News: 2018-12-18 . Студент МГУ рассказал об избиении за фото сотрудника "Центра Э" . 2024-02-23 . Радио Свобода . ru.
  15. Web site: Too civil for society: How activists, journalists, and human rights advocates are standing their ground in today's Russia . 2024-02-23 . The Insider . ru.
  16. News: Шевченко . Дарина . 2018-12-19 . "Не протестовать опаснее, чем протестовать". Студента избили за фотографию . 2024-02-23 . Радио Свобода . ru.
  17. Web site: "Медиазона": заместителем начальника московского Центра "Э" стал Алексей Окопный (он годами преследовал активистов на уличных митингах) . 2024-02-23 . Meduza . ru.
  18. Web site: 2018-12-17 . Студент МГУ рассказал об избиении в автозаке из-за фотографий сотрудника Центра "Э" Окопного . 2024-02-23 . tvrain.tv.
  19. Web site: 2021-03-05 . "Диму снова задержали". Автор телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" больше месяца провел под арестом, теперь ему дали еще 10 суток . 2024-02-23 . Настоящее Время . ru.
  20. Web site: Возвращение Навального . 2024-02-23 . Медиазона . ru.
  21. Web site: Times . Русская служба The Moscow . 2024-02-20 . Жизнь Алексея Навального в фотографиях . 2024-02-23 . Русская служба The Moscow Times . ru.
  22. Web site: 2021-06-12 . Российские власти сообщили о 17,6 тыс. задержанных на акциях в поддержку Навального . 2024-02-23 . Коммерсантъ . ru.
  23. News: "Закон не работает ни в суде, ни здесь": что происходит с задержанными и их близкими в Сахарове . 2024-02-23 . BBC News Русская служба . ru.
  24. Web site: В Сахарово объявил голодовку автор Telegram-канала "Протестный МГУ" . 2024-02-23 . The Insider . ru.
  25. Web site: Администратора телеграм‑канала "Протестный МГУ" арестовали еще на 10 суток . 2024-02-23 . Медиазона . ru.
  26. Web site: 2023-03-23 . "Этот стук в дверь ни с чем не спутаешь". Елена Стромская, мама 23-летнего математика Дмитрия Иванова, осужденного на 8,5 года по делу о "фейках" . 2024-02-23 . Новая газета . ru.
  27. Web site: From Student Activism to Imprisonment . 2024-02-23 . www.groza.media . ru.
  28. Web site: Freedom to say that two plus two makes four. Why mathematician and activist Dmitry Ivanov was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison . 2024-02-23 . Mediazona . en.
  29. Web site: На дверях квартир активистов и журналистов оставили надписи с буквой Z . 2024-02-23 . Meduza . ru.
  30. Web site: В Москве задержан активист и автор канала "Протестный МГУ". Его доставили в отдел полиции и хотят оставить там на ночь . 2024-02-23 . The Insider . ru.
  31. Web site: Автора канала "Протестный МГУ" арестовали на 10 суток в Москве. Накануне его задержали при выходе из университета . 2024-02-23 . The Insider . ru.
  32. Web site: 2023-03-07 . "Говорить правду легко и приятно". Как следствие сконструировало против активиста Дмитрия Иванова "один большой фейк", за который его приговорили к огромному сроку . 2024-02-23 . Новая газета Европа.
  33. Web site: Автор телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрий Иванов рассказывал об атаках на ЗАЭС и убийствах мирных жителей в Буче и Ирпене За посты (и репосты) об этом его отправили в колонию на восемь с половиной лет . 2024-02-23 . Meduza . ru.
  34. Web site: 2022-05-09 . Автора телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрия Иванова арестовали на 25 суток после выхода из спецприемника . 2024-02-23 . Настоящее Время . ru.
  35. Web site: Автор Telegram-канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрий Иванов проходит подозреваемым по делу о "фейках" про армию — "ОВД-инфо" . 2024-02-23 . The Insider . ru.
  36. Web site: 2022-06-03 . Суд в Москве арестовал студента МГУ Дмитрия Иванова по делу о фейках о российской армии . 2024-02-23 . Коммерсантъ . ru.
  37. Web site: 2023-03-07 . Свидетели Лавров и Конашенков в суд не явились. В Москве на 8,5 лет осудили автора телеграмм-канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрия Иванова . 2024-02-23 . Новая газета . ru.
  38. Web site: 2022-11-28 . Из московского СИЗО пропал автор телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" Дмитрий Иванов, арестованный по статье о военных "фейках" . 2024-02-23 . Настоящее Время . ru.
  39. Web site: 2022-07-21 . Автору Telegram-канала "Протестный МГУ" продлили арест до 2 сентября . 2024-02-23 . Коммерсантъ . ru.
  40. Web site: Автору канала "Протестный МГУ" продлили арест до 3 февраля . 2024-02-23 . Афиша . ru.
  41. Web site: 2023-03-01 . Обвинение запросило девять лет колонии для автора "Протестного МГУ" . 2024-02-23 . РБК . ru.
  42. Web site: 2023-03-01 . Прокуратура запросила девять лет колонии автору телеграм-канала "Протестный МГУ" . 2024-02-23 . BBC News Русская служба . ru.
  43. Web site: 2023-03-09 . Студента МГУ приговорили к восьми с половиной годам колонии. Репортаж с оглашения приговора — The Vyshka . 2024-02-23 . ru-RU.
  44. Web site: Политзеки. Дмитрий Иванов, который писал правду о войне . 2024-02-23 . Медиазона . ru.
  45. Web site: Summary of Russian wartime repression. Eleven months since the full-scale invasion . 2024-02-23 . ОВД-Инфо . ru.
  46. Web site: Автора "Протестного МГУ" Дмитрия Иванова избили в суде. Конвоир пытался окунуть активиста головой в унитаз и угрожал изнасилованием . 2024-02-23 . Meduza . ru.
  47. Web site: Администратор Telegram-канала "Протестный МГУ" получил 8,5 года колонии за фейки об армии . 2024-02-23 . TACC.
  48. Web site: Автора Telegram-канала "Протестный МГУ" оставили в СИЗО до 2 сентября по делу о распространении "фейков" об армии . 2024-02-23 . The Insider . ru.
  49. Web site: 2024-04-10 . «Выходить из тьмы — больно для глаз, но нет варианта не выйти из тьмы». После этапа в колонию политзаключенный Дмитрий Иванов почти сразу оказался в ШИЗО. Он прислал нам письмо и ответил на вопросы «Новой» . 2024-07-23 . Новая газета . ru.