Was indicated by fellow students – now she is on the terrorist list

Olesya has an electronic anklet around her ankle. The police can follow her every move, 24 hours a day.

She was arrested for posting anti-war posts on social media.

One of the posts was of the explosion on the bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula.

Risks ten years in prison

– I posted an Instagram story about the bridge, and reflected that the Ukrainians were happy that it happened, says Olesya to BBC.

In addition to this, she had shared a friend’s Instagram post, which was about the war. Then the drama started.

– I was talking on the phone with my mother when I heard the front door open. Several policemen came in, took my phone and screamed that I should lie down on the floor, she says.

Olesya was charged with justifying terrorism and humiliating Russian forces. Now she risks up to ten years in prison.

– I never imagined that someone could receive such a long prison sentence for posting something on the internet, says Olesya.

On the terrorist list

The young student goes on to say that she had seen reports of crazy sentences in Russia, but that she hadn’t really followed them. Thus, she continued to share the anti-war posts.

Olesya has now been added to Russia’s official list of terrorists and extremists.

– When I realized that I had been put on the same list as school shooters and IS, I thought it was madness, recalls Olesya.

According to the rules for house arrest, she is prohibited from talking on the phone and surfing the internet.

On one leg, she has tattooed Russian President Vladimir Putin as a spider. Between two of the “spider’s” legs, it says: “Big brother is watching you”.

Fellow students enrolled her

It was in a group chat made up of students that they started talking about Olesya being opposed to the invasion.

Most of the people who took part in the chat were history students, says Oleysa herself.

– They discussed whether they should inform the authorities, says Olesya.

In the chat, the students believed, among other things, that she posted provocative posts of an extremist nature. In addition, someone is said to have said that it is a patriot’s duty to inform the authorities about the likes of Olesya.

When the list of witnesses was read out in court, Olesya recognized several names from the student chat.

– The state does not tolerate debate, democracy or freedom. They can’t put everyone in jail. At some point they will run out of cells, says Olesya.