Serhii Shtyrov is a political prisoner
A resident of occupied Yenakiieve in the Donetsk region of Ukraine has been sentenced to 13 years in a strict regime penal colony for financing the Ukrainian armed forces
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Serhii Shtyrov a political prisoner. Shtyrov was convicted of treason for donating to the Ukrainian armed forces. Shtyrov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Serhii Shtyrov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Serhii Shtyrov?
Serhii Shtyrov lived in Yenakiieve in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region. In December 2024, he was detained and charged with ‘treason in the form of providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation’ (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
The prosecution alleged that in August or September 2024, Shtyrov transferred money via a banking app ‘knowing in advance that the funds would be used to purchase equipment, uniforms, weapons, medical supplies needed by the Ukrainian armed forces and other Ukrainian armed formations to carry on armed conflict’ against the Russian army. We do not know how much Shtyrov transferred or to whom.
On 29 May 2025, the occupation Supreme Court of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ [‘DPR’] sentenced Serhii Shtyrov to 13 years in a strict regime penal colony with one year’s probation on release and a fine of 450,000 roubles.
Why do we consider Serhii Shtyrov a political prisoner?
Even if Shtyrov had donated money to the Ukrainian armed forces, this would not have provided lawful grounds for his prosecution. Shtyrov was accused of ‘treason in the form of providing financial assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation.’ However, it is not the provision of assistance to Ukrainians defending their country that threatens Russia’s security, but rather the war unleashed by the Russian authorities themselves.
Shtyrov’s trial took place in camera, however a video recording from the court showed bruises on his face. It cannot be ruled out that his confession was obtained under torture, as is particularly common in the ‘DPR.’
It should be noted that the application of Russian law in the occupied territories and a trial in a court run by the occupation authorities can be considered violations of international law. The prosecution of residents of the occupied Ukrainian territories for treason for helping the Ukrainian army is particularly outrageous.
A detailed description of Serhii Shtyrov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
If you have information about the remand prison or penal colony in which Serhii Shtyrov is being held, please let us know by email: [email protected].
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
