Yuri Mikheev

Antifascist Yuri Mikheev is the youngest beneficiary of Solidarity zone. On November 10, 2023, 18-year-old Yuri, along with his acquaintance Matvey Melnikov, was detained on the grounds of a military base in the Moscow region. The FSB accused them of planning to set military equipment on fire. A case was opened under charges of “preparation for sabotage,” and Yuri now faces up to 10 years in prison.

Before his arrest, Yuri lived in Lobnya, a town near Moscow, and studied to become a tractor mechanic at Dmitrov Technical College. He practiced taekwondo and was passionate about history. Yuri is an antifascist and does not support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The investigation is now complete, and Yuri has been formally charged with “preparation for sabotage.” But there is still much work ahead — Yuri and his defense lawyer must review the case materials, and the trial process lies ahead.

For a year now, Solidarity zone has been supporting Yuri. And thanks to you, he has had legal defense and received packages throughout this entire time.

It’s important for us to continue supporting Yuri and not leave him alone to face the system, which is why we are launching a fundraiser for € 4000 to cover the cost of his lawyer’s services for the next six months.

Yuri Mikheev is a prisoner of war. If it weren’t for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this case would never have happened. For Yuri, having a lawyer is not only a chance to reduce the potential sentence, but also protection from the law enforcement’s abuse, torture, and pressure.