The Memorial human rights group has recognized musician Eduard Sharlot, who was arrested in November 2023 on his return from Armenia, where he publicly protested against Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as a political prisoner. Sharlot was initially arrested and handed 13 days in jail for "hooliganism." He was later placed in pretrial detention on charges of "rehabilitating Nazism," "insulting believers' feelings," and "publicly damaging an official document." The charges stem from a video Sharlot posted on Instagram in June showing him burning his Russian passport and condemning Moscow's aggression against Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's North.Realities, click here.
Memorial Recognizes Russian Musician As Political Prisoner
Eduard Sharlot was charged with "rehabilitating Nazism," "insulting believers' feelings," and "publicly damaging an official document."