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The Detained
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thedetained.org — Documenting political imprisonment. A database tracking 3,000+ cases across Russia, Belarus, and Central Asia. ML-powered analysis of persecution patterns and surveillance technology.
Pinned
Our founder Steve Swerdlow was denied entry to Kyrgyzstan on May 19th while leading 16 USC students on a Central Asia research trip. Two decades of his work documenting political prisoners in the region. We stand with Steve and with Kyrgyz defenders.
timesca.com/american-pro...
American Professor and Longtime Central Asia Researcher Denied Entry to Kyrgyzstan - The Times Of Central Asia
Professor Steve Swerdlow of the University of Southern California (USC) arrived at the Bishkek airport at 4:30 am on May 19, leading a group of 16 students
timesca.com
More than 500 days into Georgia's protests, the verdicts are landing. This month the Tbilisi City Court sentenced October 4th demonstrators to 5–7 years for "organizing group violence."

Our first dispatch tracks the cases — and the people behind them.
politicalprisonerwatch.org/blog/500-day...
politicalprisonerwatch.org
July 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Onise Tskhadadze is a 30-year-old comedian who was arrested on December 5, 2024. A pro-European activist who survived a police beating during the November 30 protests, he now faces two years in prison for his political stance.
July 5, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Natalia Povetkina was sentenced to 12 years for high treason, accused of passing data on Russian military locations to Ukrainian intelligence.

https://politicalprisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmr83blt9000fkad6u76pqmdt

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
July 5, 2026 at 6:08 PM
We are monitoring a surge in #Tajikistan cases: 6 new political-prisoner cases documented in the last 7 days which is 2× the prior period.
We are tracking every case here: politicalprisonerwatch.org
politicalprisonerwatch.org
July 3, 2026 at 6:14 PM
⚠️ Surge in Kazakhstan: 4 new political-prisoner cases documented in the last 24 hours — with no comparable activity in the prior period. Tracking every case here: politicalprisonerwatch.org
politicalprisonerwatch.org
June 29, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Andrey Vitovtov — sentenced to 16 years for Social Media Posts

Andrey Vitovtov, author of the Telegram channel 'Ice under the Major's feet', was sentenced to 16 years in prison for high treas...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmqfrfqk8000gcauqouefpal1

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 15, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Marat Gilmanov — sentenced to 6 years for Social Media Posts

Marat Gilmanov, the son of a high-ranking judge in Tatarstan, was sentenced to 6 years in a general regime colony for spreading ar...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmqfrepak0008cauq8psql5cv

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 15, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Valery Zvegintsev — sentenced to 12.5 years for political

Physicists Valery Zvegintsev and Vladislav Galkin were sentenced to 12.5 years in a strict regime colony for high treason. The charge...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmqfrfnrr000dcauq4oceg06w

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 15, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Anatoliy Marchuk, a 38-year-old Ukrainian citizen, has been sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime colony. His crime was not a violation of law, but the observation of reality in occupied territory. This is a breakdown of his case.
June 14, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Alexey Miloserdov — sentenced to 22 years for political

Former military prosecutor employee Alexey Miloserdov was sentenced to 22 years in prison for allegedly preparing to bomb courts in Tam...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmqd8rmkg0008cauqyijazlls

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 14, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Mavlyan Askarbekov — detained for Activism in Kyrgyzstan

Civil activist Mavlyan Askarbekov was detained by the GKNB on charges of inciting hatred under Article 330 of the Criminal Code. H...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmqd8ri4t0003cauqetz4vjrs

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Kyrgyzstan
June 14, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Osif Sanavbarov — sentenced to 7 years for Religious Beliefs

An 18-year-old man, Osif Sanavbarov, was sentenced to seven years in prison in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan for allegedly ...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq8q1gyx0009ca41jhk5s1bc

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Tajikistan
June 11, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Afgan Sadigov — detained for Journalism in Georgia

Journalist Afgan Sadigov has been arrested in Azerbaijan following his deportation from Georgia. His lawyer claims the arrest is part of a ...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq8q1fig0007ca41cygiyutg

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Georgia
June 11, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Ali Kerimli — detained for political in Georgia

Ali Kerimli, chairman of the opposition People's Front party, has had his pre-trial detention extended until November 2026. He faces potential...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq8q1a920002ca41iyji3zlu

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Georgia
June 11, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Muratbai Zhumagaliev — detained for Activism in Kazakhstan

Social activist Muratbai Zhumagaliev has been detained for two months in Aktau. While police claim drugs were found, his family ...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq4ji52j0003cagp8tdh2050

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Kazakhstan
June 8, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Anderson James Scott Rice — sentenced to 19 years for other

Anderson James Scott Rice received a 19-year sentence, including 5 years in a prison facility. He is facing multiple charges includ...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq4iooy30001cae4e6ppxgk4

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 8, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Aleh Huryn was once an investigator for the Belarusian state. Today, he is a prisoner of that same state. A former law enforcement officer from Niasviž, he now serves a three-year sentence for a crime that defines the current crackdown in Belarus.
June 7, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Artyom Arturovich Basyrov — sentenced to 12.25 years for Activism

Artyom Basyrov was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for attempting to join the 'Freedom of Russia Legion' and subsequent ...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq12ibk100061vdj0qt41s0f

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 5, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Mikhail Kondratyev — sentenced to 16 years for Social Media Posts

A resident of Samara, born in 1990, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for high treason and justifying terrorism. He was acc...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq13e94c00051vmbbegpwn3o

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 5, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Anatoliy Marchuk — sentenced to 13 years for political

Anatoliy Marchuk, a 38-year-old Ukrainian citizen, was sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime colony by a Russian-controlled court. He...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmq13e5cy00011vmbdub0wabh

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 5, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Our models flagged a 3.0x baseline surge in intercepted communications prosecutions under Article 275 УК in Russia.

Footprint spans Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai, and the USA, indicating cross-border monitoring or targeting of dual nationals.

politicalprisonerwatch.org/leads
politicalprisonerwatch.org
June 4, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Vladimir Grabovetsky — sentenced to 14 years for political

Vladimir Grabovetsky was sentenced to 14 years in prison for high treason. He was accused of organizing money transfers to the Ukrai...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmpyyku9a000i1vj6pddzplmd

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Russia
June 4, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Mansur Movlaev — detained for Activism in Kazakhstan

Chechen activist Mansur Movlaev, who sought asylum in Kazakhstan, had his appeal for refugee status rejected. He faces extradition to ...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmpyyivhd00081vj6go1fojyl

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Kazakhstan
June 4, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Yulia Emelyanova — detained for Activism in Kazakhstan

Russian activist Yulia Emelyanova, a member of the Navalny headquarters, has had her refugee status application rejected for a secon...

https://prisonerwatch.org/prisoners/cmpwv830n000h1vgpuu1fagqj

#PoliticalPrisoners #HumanRights #Kazakhstan
June 4, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Our founder Steve Swerdlow was denied entry to Kyrgyzstan on May 19th while leading 16 USC students on a Central Asia research trip. Two decades of his work documenting political prisoners in the region. We stand with Steve and with Kyrgyz defenders.
timesca.com/american-pro...
American Professor and Longtime Central Asia Researcher Denied Entry to Kyrgyzstan - The Times Of Central Asia
Professor Steve Swerdlow of the University of Southern California (USC) arrived at the Bishkek airport at 4:30 am on May 19, leading a group of 16 students
timesca.com
June 3, 2026 at 6:56 PM