5.5 years on ‘fake news’ charges for mother of an infant, 12 years over reposts and a criminal case over Zoom conferences
Read our overview of these and other cases of political prisoners we have recognised last week
Aleksandr Fomenko, a shop assistant from Altai Krai, was detained in December 2023 and charged with high treason and participation in a terrorist organisation for attempting to join the Freedom of Russia Legion and sending information about military and law enforcement personnel. He was sentenced to 17 years in a high-security penal colony.
Vladislav Sorokin, from Voronezh, was sentenced to two years in May 2026 on charges of public justification of terrorism over a comment on VK about a Ukrainian drone strike on the Moscow region.
Aleksandr Prokopenko, from Tula Oblast, was charged with public calls for terrorism over a single Telegram comment calling for long-range missile strikes on the Kremlin. He was sentenced to five years in a penal colony in April 2026.
Aleksandr Drakunov, from Irkutsk Oblast, posted two comments on Odnoklassniki about the shooting carried out by fellow Ust-Ilimsk resident Ruslan Zinin at a military enlistment office. Aleksandr Drakunov was remanded in custody in February 2024 and later sentenced to five years in a penal colony on charges of public justification of terrorism.
Aleksandr Dubrovskiy, from Kuzbass, was detained in March 2025. He was charged with participation in a terrorist organisation, financing terrorism and public justification of terrorism over reposts from the page of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) on his personal Telegram channel. He was also charged with rehabilitation of Nazism over his criticism of the 9 May holiday. Aleksandr Dubrovskiy was sentenced to 12 years in a high-security penal colony.
Artem Minyaylo, an auditor from Moscow, was remanded in custody in August 2026 on charges of financing extremist activity for transferring 750 roubles (≈€8) to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). He was due to undergo surgery, and is developing an infection while being held in the remand prison.
Yelena Albegova, a Moscow resident, was sentenced to three years in a penal colony in September 2026 for transferring 1,000 roubles (≈€10) to the FBK.
Artem Krokhalev, a photographer from Kaliningrad, was remanded in custody in November 2025 on charges of financing terrorism over 15 small transfers to support blogger and politician Vyacheslav Maltsev. According to investigators, the money was intended to fund the activities of a terrorist organisation that Maltsev allegedly created.
Vladimir Kompaniyets, a Jehovah’s Witness from Tomsk Oblast, was remanded in custody in June 2026 on charges of organising extremist activity over Zoom video conferences at which he quoted religious texts.
Tetiana Shevchenko lives in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast. She was charged with spreading military ‘fake news’ over Telegram comments about the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. Tetiana Shevchenko was sentenced to five and a half years in a penal colony and taken into custody in August 2026, leaving her five-month-old daughter at home.
Nataliia Pushkash, also from Kherson Oblast, has a Group III disability. She was remanded in custody in March 2025 on charges of public justification of terrorism over a post about the death of Vladlen Tatarsky, and of public calls for activities directed against state security over calling on Russian troops to surrender. Nataliia Pushkash was sentenced to six years in a penal colony.
Three residents of Zaporizhzhia Oblast were charged with high treason over transferring money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Volodymyr Shylo, accused of transferring around 85,300 roubles (≈€887), was sentenced to 15 years in a high-security penal colony. Neonila Zinkovska received 14 years in a penal colony for transferring around 3,400 roubles (≈€35), and Yuliia Kotsur 12 years for transferring the equivalent of 2,400 roubles (≈€25).
Ukrainian prisoners of war were charged with undergoing terrorism training and participation in a terrorist community over their service with Azov. Illia Dovbnia, Roman Ponomarenko and Maksym Bozhko were sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony, Denys Savorovskyi and Dmytro Horiainov to 18 years, and Roman Martiian to 16 years. Oleksandr Verkhohliad, Artur Vynnyk, Oleh Harmatenko, Maksym Voinykov, Yevhen Kolomiiko, Illia Aldakymov and Viacheslav Soloviov were also sentenced to prison terms of unknown length.
You can read more about these cases, including addresses for correspondence with political prisoners, in our full report.
One-off or regular donations in support of people affected by political repression in Russia can also be made via our website.
