Stanislav Rudenko is a political prisoner
A Ukrainian from Zaporizhzhia Oblast has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on charges of financing terrorism for donating to the Ukrainian army
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Stanislav Rudenko a political prisoner. Rudenko was convicted on a charge of financing terrorism for making monetary donations to the Ukrainian military. Rudenko’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Stanislav Rudenko and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Stanislav Rudenko?
Stanislav Rudenko is a Ukrainian citizen and a resident of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, most of which has been under Russian occupation since the start of the full-scale invasion.
It is not known exactly when Russian security forces detained Rudenko, but his criminal case was referred to the Southern District Military Court in December 2024. Rudenko was charged with having transferred approximately 5,000 hryvnias (about 10,000 roubles) between November 2023 and July 2024 for the purchase of drones. Part of the donations went to the Ukrainian Azov Battalion. On that basis, Rudenko was charged with financing terrorism (Article 205.1, Part 1.1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
On 31 March 2025, Rudenko was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, with the first three years to be served in a cell-type prison and the rest in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Stanislav Rudenko a political prisoner?
Rudenko transferred money in Ukrainian hryvnia through Ukrainian banks for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces. This was a lawful action by a citizen to defend their country from armed aggression.
Russia illegally annexed Ukrainian territories, including Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Under international law, during an occupation the legislation of the occupied territory remains in force. In imposing its own laws on Ukrainian territories, Russia is in violation of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. It was in gross violation of international law, then, that Rudenko was taken from Ukrainian territory to Russia and tried under Russian law.
However, even if Rudenko could have been lawfully tried under Russian law, the charge of financing terrorism would be unfounded. The Russian courts’ decision to designate the Azov Battalion a terrorist organisation is unlawful. The Azov Battalion forms part of the Ukrainian National Guard and carries out combat missions in accordance with the orders of the country’s military command. Moreover, the provisions of anti-terrorism legislation are not applicable to the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
A detailed description of Stanislav Rudenko’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Stanislav Rudenko at the following address:
RU:
399783, Липецкая область, г. Елец, ул. Пролетарская, д. 1Б, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Липецкой области, Руденко Станислав Сергеевич, 1997 г. р.
EN:
Stanislav Serhiiovych Rudenko (born 1997), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Lipetsk Oblast, 1B Proletarskaya Street, Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast, 399783, 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.
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