Yekaterina Yegorova is a political prisoner
A resident of Zabaikalsky Krai has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for donating to the Ukrainian armed forces
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yekaterina Yegorova a political prisoner. Yegorova was convicted on a charge of treason for donating money to the Ukrainian army. Yegorova’s prosecution and conviction violated her right to a fair trial. We demand that Yekaterina Yegorova be released and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.
What were the charges against Yekaterina Yegorova?
Yekaterina Yegorova, who is 29 years old and was probably living abroad at the time, was detained by FSB officers on a visit to Russia in June 2024. According to the prosecution, between June 2023 and April 2024 Yegorova transferred money from her bank card to the Ukrainian armed forces, accompanying the transfers with comments in Ukrainian that included: ‘Help for the armed forces,’ ‘For aerial reconnaissance,’ ‘For equipment’ and ‘For an anti-drone shield.’
Yegorova was charged with treason for ‘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). According to law enforcement officials, Yegorova admitted her guilt and ‘repented what she had done.’
On 29 April 2025, Yekaterina Yegorova was sentenced to 12 years in a general regime penal colony, a fine of 200,000 roubles and one year’s probation on release. Her trial was held in camera.
Why do we consider Yekaterina Yegorova a political prisoner?
Without access to the case materials, it is not known exactly how the prosecution allegedly proved the fact of the money transfer. However, even if it is assumed that Yekaterina Yegorova did indeed transfer funds for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, her actions would not constitute a crime. From the point of view of both Russian and international law, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is illegal and criminal. Yegorova’s alleged actions were aimed at helping Ukraine repel Russian aggression, not at harming the security of Russia. Indeed, Russia’s security is in fact threatened by the very war the Russian authorities themselves unleashed.
No information about Yegorova’s prosecution or arrest was available until the verdict had been handed down at the end of her trial, held in camera. Even then, no details of the verdict or information about the participants in the proceedings were made public. Such proceedings do not comply with the necessary principles of transparency and openness for courts of law. In these circumstances, the prosecution’s claim that Yegorova admitted her guilt is questionable. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the FSB has conducted a repressive campaign to intimidate opponents of the war, initiating criminal cases en masse on charges of treason for supporting Ukraine, including for making donations for military or humanitarian needs.
A detailed description of Yekaterina Yegorova’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Yekaterina Yegorova at the following address:
RU:
669511, Иркутская область, Эхирит-Булагатский р-н, п. Бозой, ФКУ ИК-11 ГУФСИН России по Иркутской области, Егорова Екатерина Андреевна, 1996 г. р.
EN:
Yekaterina Andreevna Yegorova (born 1996), Penal Clony No. 11, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Irkutsk Oblast, Bozoy settlement, Ekhirit-Bulagatsky district, Irkutsk Oblast, 669511, 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.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
