Arseny Turbin
Arseny Turbin is a Russian teenager and political activist. He became internationally known in 2024 after being sentenced to five years in a juvenile correctional colony in Russia on charges of "participating in a terrorist organization." He is widely regarded by human rights groups and media as one of the youngest political prisoners in modern Russia.
Early life
Turbin was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to a Russian mother and Emirati father. He was raised in Livny, Oryol Oblast, Russia. He was an academically successful student at the Bulhakov Lyceum and aspired to attend MGIMO University. Reports suggest he was bullied for his mixed heritage.Activism
In 2023, Turbin began posting anti-war content on Telegram, including founding a channel called "Свободная Россия" and distributing anti-Putin leaflets. On 1 June 2023, he allegedly emailed the anti-Kremlin military group Freedom of Russia Legion offering to assist with spreading their message, though he later stated that he never completed or submitted their recruitment form.Arrest and prosecution
On 29 August 2023, Turbin’s home was raided by the FSB, and he was detained on 5 September 2023. He was initially placed under house arrest and later transferred to a pre-trial detention center. In June 2024, the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow sentenced him to five years in a juvenile correctional colony under Article 205.5 Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code. According to Mediazona and The Moscow Times, the prosecution’s evidence was allegedly manipulated, and the FSB misrepresented Turbin’s statements during interrogation.Turbin was held at Moscow’s SIZO-5, where he reported abuse by a cellmate and significant weight loss. In October 2024, he was placed in solitary confinement after a cell dispute and later transferred to a juvenile colony in Perm Krai.