Serhii Chebukin is a political prisoner
A resident of Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in a strict regime penal colony on a charge of treason for making two money transfers
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international criteria, considers Serhii Chebukin a political prisoner. Chebukin was convicted of treason for making two money transfers to the account of a Ukrainian citizen. Chebukin’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand that Serhii Chebukin be released and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Serhii Chebukin?
62-year-old Serhii Chebukin, a citizen of both Ukraine and Russia, lived in the village of Nova Mayachka in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast, occupied by Russia.
In February 2024, the FSB issued a statement saying that, in the Russian-occupied territory of Kherson Oblast, it had uncovered ‘the activities of the British Council, a British government organisation, which, through organisations under its control, was conducting intelligence activities in the interests of the Kyiv regime.’ At the same time, Russian security forces detained Chebukin.
In a video released online by the FSB, Chebukin said that a Ukrainian female acquaintance, who lives in London and helps Ukrainian refugees, allegedly suggested he should gather information about the Russian military for the British Council. Chebukin said he had refused to cooperate.
Later, it became known that a criminal case had been opened against Chebukin for treason in the form of financing the Ukrainian armed forces (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code). The grounds for this charge were two money transfers to the bank account of the same acquaintance who allegedly cooperated with the British Council.
On 6 February 2025, a court sentenced Serhii Chebukin to 12.5 years in a strict regime penal colony and a fine of 350,000 roubles.
Why do we consider Serhii Chebukin a political prisoner?
The criminal prosecution of Serhii Chebukin is unfounded and politically motivated. The monetary transfers he may have made to his acquaintance’s account were most likely intended for humanitarian aid to refugees.
At the same time, if Chebukin had transferred funds for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, his actions would not have constituted a crime. In terms of international law, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is illegal and criminal. In this context, monetary donations to the Ukrainian armed forces cannot be considered a crime. Aid to Ukraine is aimed at repelling military aggression, not at harming Russia’s security. Russia’s security is threatened by the war that the Russian authorities have themselves unleashed.
After the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, the FSB began actively initiating prosecutions for treason on the grounds of ‘providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation.’ This has been done to intimidate those Russians who disagree with the war and sympathise with Ukraine.
A detailed description of Serhii Chebukin’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Serhii Chebukin at the following address:
RU: 275502, Херсонская область, м.о. Генический, с. Чонгар, ул. Тараса Шевченко, д. 66, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по Херсонской области, Чебукину Сергею Владимировичу, 1963 г. р.
EN: Serhii Volodymyrovych Chebukin (born 1963), Remand Prison No. 1, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Kherson Oblast, 66 Tarasa Shevchenko Ulitsa, Chongar village, Genichesky municipal district, Kherson Oblast, 275502, Russia.
We respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. However, for letters to reach their intended recipients in the occupied territories, addresses must be written in line with Russian rules.
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.
