Olga Smirnova

An architect and artist, and an activist of the "Peaceful Resistance" movement. In October 2021, a case was opened against Smirnova for justifying terrorism in connection with an action in support of Crimean Tatars. It later became known that the case had been dropped; the decision to terminate the proceedings was dated October 2021, although Smirnova was not returned all the equipment seized during the search until 6 April 2022.

On 5 May 2022, Smirnova was detained following a search in connection with a criminal case on the dissemination of knowingly false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The following day, the court ordered that Smirnova be remanded in custody; the hearing was held behind closed doors and concluded late at night. On 10 October, the court returned the case to the prosecutor’s office; however, the case was subsequently sent back to the court. In February 2023, Smirnova’s defence lawyer, Dinar Idrisov, was barred from participating in the proceedings on the grounds that two witnesses in the case had issued powers of attorney to him.

On 30 August 2023, Smirnova was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment in a general-regime penal colony.

In June 2024, it became known that Smirnova had been placed on a prison register as “prone to extremism”.

You can read more about politically persecuted people in the Telegram channel OVD-Info LIVE and our database of politically motivated criminal prosecutions.