UIA-IROL urges for the release of Russian lawyer Dmitry Talantov, Recipient of the 2025 Ludovic Trarieux Human Rights Prize

Mr. Talantov is a lawyer at Izhevsk, former President of the Udmurt Bar Association in the Republic of Udmurtia, and has served as a defense counsel in several politically sensitive cases. He has long been recognized for his principled defense of human rights and the rule of law.

Mr. Talantov was detained in June 2022 on charges of under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code for “disseminating deliberately false information about the Russian Armed Forces” based on his posts on social media allegedly denouncing war crimes in Ukraine. A few months later, a charge on “incitement of hatred” was added as well. On 28 November 2024, Mr. Talanov was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in a general penal colony. The Supreme Court of Udmurtia reduced his sentence by two months in late October 2025.

UIA-IROL believes that the statements at the origin of these charges amount to peaceful and legitimate exercise of his freedom of expression on matters of public concern. Both his prosecution and his conviction therefore constitute a deeply troubling misuse of criminal law to suppress legitimate public debate.

UIA-IROL recalls Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which is binding on the Russian Federation, and guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds”. Criminal sanctions for non-violent speech fall foul of this protection unless they meet strict criteria of legality, necessity, and proportionality, which are not fulfilled in the present case.

More specifically, Principle 23 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, defining international standards regarding a free and independent legal profession, provides that “lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression […]. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights […] without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful actions […]”.

UIA-IROL repeatedly reaffirms the vital role that lawyers play in upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting human rights. However, this role can only be fulfilled if their own fundamental rights and freedoms are fully safeguarded and respected by the authorities.

UIA-IROL therefore calls on the Russian authorities to:

• Immediately release Dmitry Talantov;
• Annul his conviction, or ensure an independent and impartial review fully compliant with international standards;
• Guarantee that all lawyers and all citizens can exercise their freedom of expression, as well as all other human rights, in accordance with international standards, including when commenting on matters concerning law, justice, and human rights.

UIA-IROL pays tribute to Mr. Talantov’s courage and expresses its solidarity with him and with all citizens in the Russian Federation who face reprisals for legitimately and peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.  The imprisonment of a lawyer for publicly expressing views on issues relating to justice and human rights sends a profoundly alarming message and undermines the very foundations of the rule of law.

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See Statement 

See Statement