Nina Slobodchikova is a political prisoner
A programmer from Moscow was convicted on a charge of treason and sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony for transferring $60 to Ukraine
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Nina Slobodchikova a political prisoner. Slobodchikova was convicted on a charge of treason for transferring 5,000 roubles to a blogger in Ukraine. The prosecution and conviction of Slobodchikova violated her right to fair trial. We demand that Nina Slobodchikova be released immediately, her conviction quashed and all criminal charges against her dropped.
What were the charges against Nina Slobodchikova?
The criminal case against Nina Slobodchikova was initiated on 2 March 2023. The following day she was arrested at her home in Moscow. According to the investigative authorities, in April 2022 Slobodchikova transferred 5,000 roubles (about $60) to support the Ukrainian armed forces. Slobodchikova stated that the transfer was made to a Sberbank card belonging to a blogger in Ukraine for humanitarian purposes: ‘At that time, it seemed to me that this was the only thing I could do to cope with the sense of helplessness and guilt I felt.’
Nina Slobodchikova was charged with treason on the grounds that she had provided financial support to the Ukrainian armed forces, an action intended to undermine the security of the Russian Federation (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code). She was remanded in custody. According to available information, Slobodchikova was the first person in Russia arrested on a charge of providing financial support to the Ukrainian armed forces.
On 11 April 2024, Slobodchikova was sentenced to 12 years in a general-regime penal colony and one year of probation upon release. On 18 September 2024, the sentence was upheld on appeal.
Why do we consider Slobodchikova a political prisoner?
We do not have access to the materials of Slobodchikova’s criminal case as they are classified. Our conclusions are based on information from open sources.
Many of Nina Slobodchikova’s relatives, including her mother, were born in and have lived in Ukraine, consequently, she has been deeply affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion. We believe that she transferred the money to help Ukraine as a victim of Russian military aggression, rather than to harm the security of Russia.
Even if we assume that Slobodchikova did intend to undermine the security of Russia, the $60 she transferred is an insignificant sum, posed no real danger to society, and certainly did not warrant such a lengthy prison sentence.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, the FSB has been active in initiating prosecutions for treason on the grounds of ‘providing financial support to a foreign state in activities aimed against the security of the Russian Federation’. However, Russia’s security is threatened not by support for Ukraine, but by the aggressive war against Ukraine launched by the Russian authorities.
A more detailed description of Nina Slobodchikova’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Nina Slobodchikova at the following address:
In Russian:
109383, г. Москва, ул. Шоссейная, д. 92, ФКУ СИЗО-6 ГУФСИН России по г. Москве, Слободчиковой Нине Михайловне 1986 г. р.
In English:
Nina Mikhailovna Slobodchikova (born 1986), Remand Prison No. 6, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service for Moscow, 92 Shosseynaya Street, Moscow, 109383, Russia.
You can also send an email via F-Pismo and ZT (for payment with Russian cards), or PrisonMail (for payment with other cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
