Dmitry Kuznetsov, a Russian anti-war activist, was found hanged in a disciplinary isolation cell in Russia on April 17. He had previously begun a hunger strike and warned of the risk of being killed in detention. In February 2025, he had been sentenced to three years in prison for anti-war statements.
Before his imprisonment, he had been arrested following a lone anti-war protest in Voronezh, during which he held a sign reading ” No to War.” He had also left behind farewell videos in which he warned that he risked being killed in prison. After his death, these recordings were released by his friends.
In 2024, another anarchist, Roman Shvedov, was found dead. In the past month, five political prisoners have been reported dead in Russia. Deaths in custody remain a systemic problem.