Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva are political prisoners
The Khabarovsk activists have been convicted for participation in the Volya party
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva political prisoners. The two women were convicted on a criminal charge of participation in an extremist organisation for their association with the Volya party; Ignatyeva was also convicted of inducing others to take part in the party’s activities. Their criminal prosecutions and convictions violated their rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association and a fair trial. We demand the release of Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva and that all criminal charges against them be dropped.
Who are Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva and what were the charges against them?
Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva are activists from Komsomolsk-on-Amur and supporters of Svetlana Lada-Rus, who founded the Volya political party. In 2016, a court declared Volya an extremist organisation and dissolved it.
On 5 September 2023, Ignatyeva and Tokareva’s homes were searched, and the security forces seized technical equipment, documents and books. Following questioning, both women were placed under travel restrictions.
Tokareva was charged solely with participating in the activities of an extremist organisation (Article 282.2, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation); Ignatyeva was in addition charged with involving others in the activities of an extremist organisation (Article 282.2, Part 1.1, CC RF). Both women were accused of continuing the activities of the Volya party and establishing a party cell under the guise of discussing the ideas of Lada-Rus. The prosecution was based on covert footage taken at a meeting of activists in 2022 in which two agents – students from the ‘police support unit’ – took part. The defence claimed the case was a provocation and the evidence was fabricated.
On 10 March 2025, a court in Komsomolsk-on-Amur sentenced Ignatyeva to five years and six months in a penal colony; Tokareva was sentenced to two years and six months. On the day of the verdict, Tokareva’s three young grandchildren, who were in her care, were taken away from her.
Why do we consider Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva political prisoners?
The prosecutions were based on materials from a dubious covert operation and the actions of individuals the defence considered provocateurs. While we do not have access to the case files, the available information indicates that the prosecution’s case was built on weak and contradictory evidence.
In any event, a prosecution for involving others in the activities of the Lada-Rus party is unlawful. Human rights defenders have repeatedly criticised the decision to designate the Volya party as extremist since there were no good grounds for such a decision. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the decision contravened international law and violated the right to freedom of expression. Lada-Rus expressed controversial and often absurd ideas, but the party did not incite violence; its activities did not violate Russian law.
There was no evidence of violence or incitement to violence in the actions of Ignatyeva and Tokareva. Their participation in discussions and the dissemination of information cannot be considered extremism.
Detailed description of the cases of Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the project, ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial,’ agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Natalya Ignatyeva and Marina Tokareva at the following address:
RU:
681000, Хабаровский край, Комсомольск-на-Амуре, ул. Пионерская, 23, корп. 2, ФКУ СИЗО-2 УФСИН России по Хабаровскому краю:
- Игнатьева Наталья Александровна 1971 г. р.
- Токарева Марина Дмитриевна, 1968 г. р.
EN:
Natalya Aleksandrovna Ignatyeva (born 1971),
Marina Dmitrievna Tokareva (born 1968)
Remand Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Khabarovsk Krai, 23 (block 2) Pionerskaya Street, Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Khabarovsk Krai, 681000, Russia.
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Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
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