Daniil Senko, Ruslan Orlovsky and Ilya Kholopov are political prisoners
Three men have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from six to 12 years on charges of treason and membership of a terrorist organisation for planning to fight on the side of Ukraine
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Daniil Senko, Ruslan Orlovsky and Ilya Kholopov political prisoners. The three were convicted on charges of preparing to commit treason and joining a terrorist organisation for allegedly planning to join the Free Russia Legion or the Russian Volunteer Corps. The prosecution and conviction of Senko, Orlovsky and Kholopov violated their rights to a fair trial. We demand that their convictions be quashed.
What were the charges against Daniil Senko, Ruslan Orlovsky and Ilya Kholopov?
Daniil Senko, a driver from Nizhny Novgorod, was detained on 30 July 2023. He was beaten during his detention. According to the investigative authorities, Senko planned to fight on the side of Ukraine, and for that reason filled out an application form to join the Free Russia Legion and received instructions from its representatives on how to cross the border into Ukraine.
Ruslan Orlovsky, a driver from Temryuk in Krasnodar Krai, was detained in November 2023 whilst allegedly attempting to leave Russia. He was subject to a series of short-term jail terms before being remanded in custody. The investigative authorities claimed Orlovsky made contact with the Ukrainian Security Service [SBU] and was planning to travel to Ukraine to join a unit designated in Russia as a terrorist organisation – presumably either the Free Russia Legion or the Russian Volunteer Corps.
Ilya Kholopov, a student from Pestov in Novgorod Oblast, was detained on 4 March 2024. It is known that he frequently argued with supporters of the war at his technical college, after which the FSB interviewed him more than once. According to the investigative authorities, Kholopov was planning to travel to Ukraine and join the Ukrainian armed forces. He allegedly sent an application to the Free Russia Legion but received no reply and decided to make his own way to join either the Legion or the Russian Volunteer Corps in Ukraine.
All three men were charged with preparing to commit treason by defecting to the enemy (Article 30, Part 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in conjunction with Article 275 CC RF) and of participating in a terrorist organisation (Article 30, Part 1, CC RF in conjunction with Article 205.5, Part 2, CC RF).
On 22 April 2024, Ruslan Orlovsky was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment; on 16 September 2024, Daniil Senko was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment; and on 8 April 2025, Ilya Kholopov was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.
Why do we consider Daniil Senko, Ruslan Orlovsky and Ilya Kholopov political prisoners?
It is not known whether Orlovsky, Kholopov or Senko intended to join the Ukrainian armed forces. However, even if they did so intend, they should not face criminal prosecution under the charges brought against them. You can read more about our approach here.
At the same time, similarities in the prosecutions of Kholopov, Orlovsky and Senko, who lived in different regions of Russia, suggest they were the result of sting operations by the FSB, whose officers may have been communicating online with those subsequently convicted under the guise of representatives of the Free Russia Legion or the Russian Volunteer Corps.
More information about the cases of Ilya Kholopov, Ruslan Orlovsky and Daniil Senko is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Daniil Senko, Ruslan Orlovsky and Ilya Kholopov at the following addresses:
RU:
Российская Федерация, 399783, Липецкая область, г. Елец, ул. Пролетарская, д. 1Б, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Липецкой области, Холопов Илья Владимирович, 2005 г. р.
EN:
Ilya Vladimirovich Kholopov (born 2005), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Lipetsk Oblast, 1B Proletarskaya Street, Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, 399783, Russia.
RU:
Российская Федерация, 433503, Ульяновская область, г. Димитровград, ул. Калугина, д. 66, ФКУ Т УФСИН России по Ульяновской области, Орловский Руслан Александрович, 1990 г. р.
EN:
Ruslan Aleksandrovich Orlovsky (born 1990), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Ulyanovsk Oblast, 66 Kalugina Street, Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Oblast, 433503, Russia.
RU:
Российская Федерация, 412315, Саратовская область, г. Балашов, ул. Уральская, д. 17, ФКУ Т УФСИН России по Саратовской области, Сенько Даниил Анатольевич 1984 г.р.
EN:
Daniil Anatolyevich Senko (born 1984), Prison of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Saratov Oblast, 17 Uralskaya Street, Balashov, Saratov Oblast, 412315, Russia.
You can also send emails via F-Pismo (for payment with Russian bank cards), ZT (for payment with all bank cards), and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
