Danil Likhanov is a political prisoner
A man from Novosibirsk has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for donating to the Russian Volunteer Corps and for reposting a call to donate to this unit
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Danil Likhanov a political prisoner. Likhanov was convicted on charges of treason and financing and promoting terrorism for donations to the Russian Volunteer Corps and a social media post. Likhanov’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the release of Danil Likhanov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Danil Likhanov?
Danil Likhanov, aged 22, from Novosibirsk, was detained on 16 September 2024. He was charged with financing terrorism (Article 205.1, Part 1.l, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for making a cryptocurrency transfer to a person linked to the Russian Volunteer Corps. According to the investigative authorities, over the course of 2023–2024 Likhanov made several such transfers to help Ukraine.
The investigative authorities later brought additional charges against Likhanov of treason (Article 275 CC RF) for making cryptocurrency transfers to Ukraine and of publicly promoting terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2, CC RF) for a repost calling for donations to the Russian Volunteer Corps.
On 24 December 2025, Likhanov was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, of which the first three years are to be served in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Danil Likhanov a political prisoner?
Likhanov was accused of financing terrorism for making donations to the Russian Volunteer Corps, a Ukrainian unit wrongfully designated as a terrorist organisation in Russia. The Russian Volunteer Corps is an official unit of the Ukrainian armed forces and is involved in repelling Russian aggression. In international law, the participation of official military units in armed conflict cannot be classified as terrorism.
The charge of treason relates to the same donations. However, supporting Ukraine in repelling armed aggression is not directed against Russia’s security, as required by this charge, and therefore does not constitute a criminal offence.
The charge against Likhanov of promoting terrorism is based on a repost of a publication that posed no danger to the public. Likhanov was prosecuted, not for the contents of his statement, but solely because the Russian Volunteer Corps has been designated a terrorist organisation in Russia.
Increasingly, the Russian authorities are prosecuting Russians on charges of treason for providing financial aid to Ukraine. Charges under terrorism laws are also frequently used for support of Ukrainian units designated as terrorist organisations in Russia. All of this is intended to intimidate dissenters and suppress domestic criticism of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A detailed description of Danil Likhanov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Danil Likhanov at the following address:
RU:
412315, Саратовская область, г. Балашов, ул. Уральская, д. 17, ФКУ Т УФСИН России по Саратовской области, Лиханов Данил Сергеевич, 2003 г. р.
EN:
Danil Sergeevich Likhanov (born 2003), 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.
