Ilya Tarasov is a political prisoner
A St. Petersburg resident has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for transferring 12,500 roubles to the Ukrainian armed forces
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ilya Tarasov a political prisoner. Tarasov was convicted on a charge of treason for transferring money to the Ukrainian armed forces. Tarasov’s criminal prosecution violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Ilya Tarasov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What are the charges against Ilya Tarasov?
Ilya Tarasov, a resident of St. Petersburg (or possibly of Leningrad Oblast), was detained on 11 March 2025 and charged with ‘treason in the form of providing financial assistance to a foreign state for activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation’ (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The prosecution claims that Tarasov, ‘disagreeing with the political course of the Russian Federation, decided to provide financial assistance to Ukraine. At the end of February 2025, in Priozyorsk, the defendant transferred 12,532.28 roubles to a fund engaged in the purchase of weapons for the Ukrainian armed forces.’
In May 2026, Tarasov was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Ilya Tarasov a political prisoner?
Even if Ilya Tarasov did indeed transfer money to a fund involved in the purchase of weapons for the Ukrainian armed forces, his actions would not constitute a crime. In international, and therefore Russian, law, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is illegal and criminal. The actions attributed to Tarasov were intended to assist Ukraine in repelling military aggression, not to harm Russia’s security. In reality, it is the war unleashed by the Russian authorities that threatens Russia’s security.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the security forces have been initiating large numbers of criminal prosecutions on charges of treason for supporting Ukraine, including for money transfers for military or humanitarian needs. This repressive campaign is designed to intimidate domestic opponents of the war of aggression.
A detailed description of Ilya Tarasov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
If you have information as to the remand prison where Ilya Tarasov is being held, please let us know by email: [email protected].
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
