Nikolai Kolin is a political prisoner
He has been sentenced to nearly 14 years in a strict-regime penal colony on charges of treason and financing terrorism for sending money to an acquaintance in Ukraine
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Nikolai Kolin a political prisoner. Kolin has been convicted on charges of treason and financing terrorism for a money transfer he allegedly made to a representative of the Russian Volunteer Corps. The prosecution and conviction of Nikolai Kolin violate his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Nikolai Kolin and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Nikolai Kolin?
On 26 April 2023, Nikolai Kolin, a shoemaker from Moscow, was detained by police on a Moscow street for allegedly disobeying their ‘lawful demands.’ The following day a court sentenced him to 15 days in jail for this administrative-law offence.
On 11 May 2023, a criminal case was initiated against Kolin for financing terrorism (Article 205.1, Part 1.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, Kolin transferred 10,000 roubles to a representative of the Russian Volunteer Corps fighting on the Ukrainian side. On 12 May, Kolin was remanded in custody. On 19 February 2024, in connection with the same money transfer, Kolin was charged with treason for ‘providing financial assistance to a representative of a foreign organisation engaged in activities against the security of the Russian Federation’ (Article 275). Kolin claims he sent the money to an acquaintance for humanitarian purposes.
On 9 July 2024, a military court sentenced Nikolai Kolin to 14 years in a strict-regime penal colony, with the first three years to be served in a cell-type prison, and additionally imposed a fine of 300,000 roubles. On 26 November 2024, a court of appeal reduced Kolin’s sentence to 13 years and 11 months.
Why do we consider Kolin a political prisoner?
The criminal charges against Kolin are unfounded. Even if Kolin did transfer money to the Russian Volunteer Corps, which he denies, his actions do not constitute a criminal offence.
There were no grounds to designate the Russian Volunteer Corps as a terrorist organisation. As a unit of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, the Russian Volunteer Corps legitimately participates in the war to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression.
Furthermore, the court considered one and the same money transfer made by Kolin to be simultaneously both ‘financing terrorism’ and ‘providing financial assistance to a foreign organisation for activities against the security of the Russian Federation.’ However, in this case, these are mutually exclusive charges given that participation in warfare as part of the armed forces of another state is not considered terrorist activity under either Russian or international law.
Additionally, under international law, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is unlawful and criminal. Even if Kolin did transfer money to the Russian Volunteer Corps, it would have been to support Ukraine in defending itself against military aggression and not to harm Russia’s security.
A more detailed description of Nikolai Kolin’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply that the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with or approves of their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Nikolai Kolin at the following address:
In Russian: 1600020, г. Владимир, ул. Большая Нижегородская, д. 67, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Владимирской области, Колину Николаю Николаевичу 1992 г. р.
In English: Nikolai Nikolaevich Kolin (born 1992), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Vladimir Oblast, 67 Bolshaya Nizhegorodskaya Street, Vladimir, 1600020, Russia.
You can also send an e-mail via ZT (for payments with Russian cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
