Arseny Turbin’s Mother Fears for Son’s Life

Arseny Turbin, a 17-year-old political prisoner in Russia, has been placed in solitary confinement in a Moscow pretrial detention center. The move was reported on March 5, 2026, by the Russian NGO Perm Human Rights Community, which stated the isolation was implemented to prevent Turbin from receiving a food parcel from his relatives.

The incident occurred after Turbin’s family attempted to deliver a package on March 4, 2026. According to the NGO, staff members initially asked the relatives to wait before eventually turning them away, stating that Turbin had been placed in solitary confinement and could not take delivery of the package.

Turbin’s mother expressed grave concern for her son’s safety following the development. I’m just afraid for my child’s life, she stated, adding that the situation appeared to be developing so cruelly that she feared for his life and questioned if authorities were attempting to drive her son to suicide.

Legal History and New Charges

Turbin’s imprisonment began in 2024 when he was 15 years old. He was sentenced to five years in a juvenile detention facility after being convicted of participating in a terrorist organization. The conviction stemmed from correspondence he had with the Freedom of Russia Legion, a pro-Ukraine unit composed of Russian nationals that is banned within Russia.

While state investigators alleged that Turbin joined the legion in the summer of 2023 and distributed leaflets criticizing Vladimir Putin under their orders, Turbin has maintained that he disseminated the flyers of his own accord and never joined the organization. The human rights group Memorial has declared Turbin a political prisoner.

In February 2026, new charges were brought against Turbin for participation in unspecified mass riots. His family and supporters believe these additional charges were filed to ensure he remains in prison for several more years. These new allegations could result in an additional three to eight years of imprisonment.

Reports of Abuse in Detention

Prior to the recent solitary confinement, Turbin reported suffering physical and psychological abuse while in detention. In a letter to his mother published in October 2024, Turbin, who was 16 at the time, described being attacked multiple times by a cellmate named Azizbek.

This evening after 6:00 p.m., one of my cellmates punched me in the head twice while I was in bed. The situation is really hard, it’s critical. Azizbek punched me and said he was going to fuck me up tonight. The night is going to be very hard. But I’ll hold on.

Arseny Turbin, in a letter to his mother

Supporters of the teenager, including the group Freedom to Arseny, suspected that cellmates may have also been stealing his food. Turbin further noted that the remand prison had designated him as prone to terrorism due to his previous conviction for participating in a terrorist organization.

Turbin’s trial regarding the new charges was scheduled to continue during the week of March 4, 2026.