Sergei Udaltsov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sergei Udaltsov
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Сергей Удальцов
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Udaltsov in 2018
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| Chairman of the Vanguard of Red Youth |
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| Assumed office 4 May 1999 |
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| Chairman of the Russian United Labour Front |
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| Assumed office 22 February 2010 |
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Sergei Stanislavovich Udaltsov
16 February 1977 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Russian United Labour Front Vanguard of Red Youth Left Front |
| Spouse | Anastasia Udaltsova |
| Children | Ivan (born 2002) Oleg (born 2005) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Sergei Stanislavovich Udaltsov (Russian: Серге́й Станиславович Удальцов; born 16 February 1977) is a Russian political activist. He is known for his left-wing views, which means he often supports ideas like social equality and workers' rights. He is a leader of a group called the Vanguard of Red Youth (AKM).
In 2011 and 2012, Sergei Udaltsov helped lead many protests against the government in Russia. These protests were against Vladimir Putin, who was the president at the time. In 2014, he was sent to a special camp for 4 and a half years. This was because he helped organize a protest in May 2012 that became violent between the police and the people protesting. He was released from prison in 2017.
Contents
Life and Activism
Early Arrests and Protests
On December 4, 2011, the day of the Russian elections, Udaltsov was arrested in Moscow. Police said he did not follow their directions to cross the road safely. He was held for five days. After that, he was arrested again right away. This time, he was given a 15-day sentence. Police said he had left a hospital without permission during an earlier arrest.
While in prison, Udaltsov went on a hunger strike. This means he refused to eat to protest the conditions he was kept in. An organization called Amnesty International said he was a "prisoner of conscience." This means they believed he was jailed for his beliefs, not for a real crime. They asked for him to be set free.
One of his lawyers, Violetta Volkova, asked the European Court of Human Rights to release him. She said that many rules were broken when he was arrested. By December 2011, Udaltsov had spent a total of 86 days in jail since November 2010. His lawyers said these arrests were made up to stop him from speaking freely.
Leading Protests in 2012
Sergei Udaltsov was a main leader in the protests in Moscow in May 2012. These protests happened after Vladimir Putin became president again. Udaltsov took a strong stand as protesters tried to go beyond the limits set by the police. He was arrested, then let go, and then arrested again at another protest. He was sentenced to 15 days in jail.
This way of protesting was new for the movement. Before, protesters usually asked for permission and kept things peaceful. On May 8, 2012, Udaltsov and another opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, were arrested after a protest. They were both given 15-day jail sentences. Amnesty International again called them "prisoners of conscience."
Conspiracy Charges in 2012
In October 2012, a TV channel showed a program that accused Udaltsov and others of planning to overthrow the government. They said Udaltsov met with a politician from Georgia to plan this. The TV show claimed to have a secret recording of the meeting.
Russian investigators said the recording was real. However, some people online questioned if it was true. Udaltsov said on Twitter that the accusations were "lies" and a "trick" to get him arrested.
After the TV show, Udaltsov was charged with planning large public disturbances. He was arrested by special police on October 17. Another person involved, Leonid Razvozzhayev, went to Ukraine to ask for safety. But he was reportedly taken back to Moscow, where he claimed he was forced to sign a confession.
On October 26, Udaltsov was officially charged with planning riots. An official also said he tried to plan "terrorist acts." The charges were seen by many as a way to stop the protests against President Putin. Udaltsov was arrested again on October 27 with Alexei Navalny and Ilya Yashin. They were trying to protest against Razvozzhayev's alleged kidnapping.
Later Arrests
Udaltsov was among those arrested at a protest in Lubyanka Square on December 15, 2012. About 2,000 protesters gathered, even though they faced large fines for protesting without permission. A Russian lawmaker said, "There is still protest and we want change, and they can't frighten us."
In January 2024, Udaltsov was arrested again. He was charged with "justifying terrorism." This was because he supported a group that had been arrested earlier for terrorism. This arrest happened during a time when the government was cracking down more on people who oppose it.
Political Beliefs
Sergei Udaltsov has worked for the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) in past elections. He supported their candidates in the 2012 and 2018 presidential elections.
Views on Russia
In an interview in 2012, Udaltsov spoke about his ideas for Russia. He wanted "direct democracy," where people could vote on important issues. He also wanted people to be able to talk with leaders using the internet.
Udaltsov said, "We are not looking back to the Soviet Union. We don't want to go back to a system where the government controlled everything. But we do want to keep the good parts of the Soviet system. We want Russia to develop in a social-democratic way." This means he supports ideas like social welfare and a fairer economy.
Views on Ukraine
Udaltsov is known for his strong views on foreign policy. He supports Russia taking over Crimea. He also supports the "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine, which are areas that broke away from Ukraine.
About Crimea joining Russia, he said, "I am a Soviet patriot. I think the Soviet Union breaking apart was a big mistake. So, I see Crimea joining Russia as a small but important step to bring back a new [Soviet] Union." In 2017, he added that he believed the people of Crimea truly wanted to be with Russia. He said that as someone who believes in democracy, he could not go against their choice.
Udaltsov has also shown support for Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Family Life
Sergei is married to Anastasia Udaltsova. In the early 2010s, they were known as a "revolutionary couple" in Russian politics. They have two sons together: Ivan, born in 2002, and Oleg, born in 2005.
See also
In Spanish: Serguéi Udaltsov para niños
- Vanguard of Red Youth
