Irish citizen with dual Russian nationality detained in Russia over phone messages, wife says
An Irish citizen with dual Russian nationality has been detained in Russia since August after authorities found messages on his phone that expressed anti-Russian sentiment, according to his Ukrainian wife, who is appealing to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for help.
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Daria Petrenko, who fled Ukraine at the start of the war and now lives in Claregalway, Co Galway, said her husband, 49-year-old Dmitri Simbaev, was stopped while visiting Russia and later charged under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. She believes a message she posted on Telegram denouncing the war after her mother was killed in Kharkiv was seen on her husband’s device.
“I was sad, I was stressed, it was a very difficult time, so I just posted negative messages because I lost my mother,” Ms Petrenko said.
Ms Petrenko said Russian authorities are treating Mr Simbaev’s case as an offence related to speech and online content. She said he faces counts including “public justification of terrorism,” “public calls for extremist activity,” and “arbitrary action committed with the use of violence or the threat of its use.” If convicted, she fears he could be jailed or sent to a forced labour camp.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. However, intervening has been complicated by Mr Simbaev’s dual Russian and Irish citizenship, according to Ms Petrenko. She believes Russian authorities view his Russian citizenship as taking precedence and may not cooperate with Irish officials while he is in Russia.
Mr Simbaev has lived in Ireland for more than 20 years and has been a regular visitor to Russia, traveling annually to see his parents, Ms Petrenko said. He was using his Russian passport when he was detained in late August.
The couple met in Ireland and married in Oranmore in 2023. Instead of marking their third wedding anniversary this month, Ms Petrenko said she is campaigning to bring her husband home and is seeking a clear pathway for Irish consular access.
“This is a case of an Irish citizen, and I want my country to help,” she said, adding that she fears the legal process could move quickly and without transparency.
Ms Petrenko said her husband’s detention stems from the period after her mother was killed in a Russian attack on Kharkiv, where she publicly denounced the war. She believes that the Russian authorities linked that post — visible on Mr Simbaev’s phone — to violations under the country’s laws governing extremism and terrorism-related speech.
The case highlights the challenges for dual nationals detained in countries of their other citizenship, where local authorities may refuse or limit outside consular involvement. Ms Petrenko said she has been in continuing contact with Irish officials and hopes diplomatic pressure can be applied to secure access and advocate for Mr Simbaev’s release.
There has been no indication from Russian authorities on when a court hearing might take place, and Ms Petrenko said she remains focused on ensuring her husband has legal representation and access to consular support. “I just want him safe,” she said.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
