Alexander Dotsenko, a jeweler and activist from Gatchina in the Leningrad region of Russia, passed away on February 19 in a St. Petersburg hospital following a heart attack, according to his support group. He was 65 years old.
Dotsenko was hospitalized on February 12 after suffering a heart attack. His condition deteriorated in the days that followed, leading doctors to induce a medically induced coma.
In 2024, Dotsenko and his wife, Anastasia Dyudayeva, were sentenced to three and three and a half years in a penal colony, respectively. The charges stemmed from their distribution of pro-Ukrainian leaflets at a Lenta supermarket, one of which contained the phrase “Putin on a branch.” Both Dotsenko and Dyudayeva denied the allegations against them.
The death of Alexander Dotsenko highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding free expression in Russia, particularly in relation to pro-Ukrainian sentiments. His case underscores the legal repercussions faced by individuals expressing dissenting views in the current political climate.