Alexsandr Antonov

Alexsandr Antonov is a 66-year-old mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, husband, and father. He fled with his family from the USSR to the United States in the 1990s, settling in Santa Barbara, CA, and becoming a naturalized American citizen. Throughout his life, Alexsandr pursued business opportunities overseas, and he had successful businesses in Crimea and Ukraine that continued despite the ongoing conflict. Alexsandr often traveled to Crimea and Ukraine for his work and to visit extended family; it was on one of these trips that his life was turned upside down.

On March 5, 2025, Alexsandr was arrested at a passport check when attempting to cross the border from Russia into Estonia on his journey back to the United States. Russian border police became openly hostile and aggressive when they discovered Alexsandr’s U.S. passport. After threatening and mocking Alexsandr, they demanded to search his phone. The police alleged that some Telegram messages contained anti-Russian sentiment, and they detained and transferred Alexsandr into Pechory, Russia. He was charged first with hooliganism to extend his detention, and finally Russian authorities in another court charged him with inciting terrorism and extremism. Alexsandr was sentenced to six years in a Russian gulag, victim of a longtime Russian tactic of adding charges to force a long conviction.

Alexsandr’s lawyers filed an appeal against the conviction that was quickly denied. Although a second appeal has been submitted, the attorneys have little hope that it will be effective. Since his arrest, Alexsandr has been allowed almost no contact with his wife and family. He is being held unjustly, and he needs to be brought home.

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