Ivan Monakhov is a political prisoner
A resident of Ivanovo has been sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony for transferring money to Ukraine on the first day of the full-scale war
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ivan Monakhov a political prisoner. Monakhov was convicted on a charge of treason for transferring money to help Ukraine. Monakhov’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Ivan Monakhov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Ivan Monakhov?
FSB officers detained 35-year-old Ivan Monakhov, a resident of Ivanovo, in April 2024. In a video that was subsequently published, security forces wearing masks and bulletproof vests knocked Monakhov to the ground and handcuffed him outside a residential building where he was walking his dog. On 5 April, he was remanded in custody.
Monakhov was charged with treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for making a money transfer in support of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. According to the verdict, Monakhov transferred funds to a bank card allegedly used by Ukrainian security services to finance the Ukrainian armed forces. The exact amount of the transfer was not disclosed, but presumably it was small. If it had been a significant sum, its size would certainly have been mentioned for propaganda purposes to emphasise the scale of the ‘crime.’
On 4 March 2025, Monakhov was sentenced to 12 years in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Ivan Monakhov a political prisoner?
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Russian authorities have initiated a large number of prosecutions for treason on grounds of supporting Ukraine. The offence with which Monakhov was charged has become a tool for intimidating those who oppose the war.
From the point of view of international law, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is illegal and criminal. Assistance to Ukraine — whether humanitarian or military — does not pose a threat to Russia’s security and should not be considered a crime. On the contrary, Russia’s security is threatened by the war unleashed by the Russian authorities.
Even if Monakhov had indeed made a money transfer on the first day of the war, his actions were clearly humanitarian in nature and not intended to undermine Russia’s security. He made the transfer, probably of a small amount, in the first hours of the war when thousands of people around the world were reacting emotionally to the Russian invasion and looking to help Ukraine.
The prosecution and harsh punishment of even minor and symbolic actions in support of Ukraine are intended to intimidate all those who oppose Russia’s war against that country.
A detailed description of Ivan Monakhov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Ivan Monakhov at the following address:
RU:
625014, Тюменская область, г. Тюмень, ул. Вербная, д. 13, корп. 2, ФКУ ИК-2 УФСИН России по Тюменской области, Монахов Иван Николаевич, 1988 г. р.
EN:
Ivan Nikolaevich Monakhov (born 1988), Penal Colony No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Tyumen Oblast, 13 Verbnaya Street, Tyumen, Tyumen Oblast, 625014, Russia.
You can also send emails via 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.
