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Free Leonid Pshenichnov
Free Leonid Pshenichnov
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To the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of: France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom.:

We call on your strong diplomatic action to urge for Leonoid’s immediate and unconditional release; for full access to legal counsel, family contact, and all necessary medical care in accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
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To the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of: France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom.:
"We call on your strong diplomatic action to urge for Leonoid’s immediate and unconditional release; for full access to legal counsel, family contact, and all necessary medical care in accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners."
Campaign started by climate activist Camille Etienne on Avaaz Community petitions platform. 

Leonid Pshenichnov is a 70-year-old Ukrainian marine biologist who has dedicated his life to protecting the ocean. Today, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Not because of a criminal offence. But because his scientific work on Antarctic krill threatens economic interests.

Krill are tiny, shrimp-like creatures about the size of a paperclip, but they are one of the foundations of life in the South Pole - one of the most remote and pristine ecosystems on the planet. Whales, seals, penguins and many fish depend on them. Without krill, the Antarctic ecosystem collapses.

Leonid Pshenichnov has spent decades working with the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the international body created in 1982 to protect Antarctic marine life. Its 27 members, including Russia, the United States, China, Australia and the EU, meet every year to decide how much fishing is allowed and whether marine protected areas should be created (1).

Leonid Pshenichnov is a specialist, highly respected by the scientific community, who has made major contributions to both Ukrainian and international Antarctic research. From 1992 to 2007, he worked aboard Ukrainian fishing and research vessels, Australian trawlers, and the German research icebreaker Polarstern. It is his engagement that helped make possible major Ukrainian scientific expeditions in Antarctic waters, contributing valuable knowledge about Southern Ocean ecosystems and marine resources (2).

Leonid was arrested in early September 2025. His arrest took place in Crimea, as he was preparing to travel to the annual CCAMLR negotiations on krill fisheries.

He has been charged with “high treason” under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code and faces a possible sentence of 12 to 20 years’ imprisonment (3). But leaked reports show that the arrest is linked to his scientific contributions within CCAMLR - work he conducted with care and integrity - including his support for science-based thresholds on Antarctic krill fishing and his proposals aimed at strengthening marine protection. Russian authorities allege that such work harmed Russia’s economic interests (4).

His detainment, put simply, serves the economic interests of Russia; It is deeply political.

But the scientific community has confirmed Leonid’s findings. In recent years, scientists have warned that krill fishing is reaching potentially unsustainable levels (5). Nevertheless, Russia and China remain opposed to new marine protected areas and to stricter limits on krill catches at every CCAMLR negotiation.

Meanwhile, it has been eight months - more than 200 days - that Leonid is unjustly detained. Colleagues say he has health problems and urgently needs proper medical care (6), (7).

This is not about politics. It is about science.

Antarctica has long been a place where countries cooperate peacefully to protect a shared ecosystem. Prosecuting a scientist for participating in international conservation efforts threatens that principle and sends a chilling message to researchers everywhere.

Leonid Pshenichnov is a scientist, not a criminal.

Standing up for the protection of Antarctic krill should not lead to prison.
Stand up for science.
Stand up for the ocean.

Demand the immediate release of Leonid Pshenichnov.

References:
  1. CCAMLR website, https://www.ccamlr.org/
  2. Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Declaration of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the illegal detention of Ukrainian scientist Leonid Pshenichnov, 21 October 2025.
  3. The Guardian, “Russia arrests Ukrainian biologist for backing curbs on Antarctic krill fishing”, 26 October 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/26/russia-ukrainian-biologist-leonid-pshenichnov-arrest-treason-antarctic-krill-overfishing
  4. Human Rights in Ukraine, “Imprisoned Ukrainian marine biologist charged with ‘treason’ for opposing Russia’s plans in Antarctic area” , 23 October 2025, https://khpg.org/en/1608815199
  5. The Guardian, “Russia arrests Ukrainian biologist for backing curbs on Antarctic krill fishing”, 26 October 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/26/russia-ukrainian-biologist-leonid-pshenichnov-arrest-treason-antarctic-krill-overfishing
  6. The Guardian, “Russia arrests Ukrainian biologist for backing curbs on Antarctic krill fishing”, 26 October 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/26/russia-ukrainian-biologist-leonid-pshenichnov-arrest-treason-antarctic-krill-overfishing
  7. Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Appeal for the release of marine biologist Leonid Pshenichnov, 10 February 2026
  8. UNODC, The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Nelson_Mandela_Rules-E-ebook.pdf


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