{"id":62391,"date":"2025-11-13T12:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T09:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/news\/my-schitaem-politzaklyuchyonnoj-olgu-sofronovu-moskvinu\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T19:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:19:47","slug":"olga-sofronova-moskvina-is-a-political-prisoner","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/memopzk.org\/en\/news\/olga-sofronova-moskvina-is-a-political-prisoner\/","title":{"rendered":"Olga Sofronova-Moskvina is a political prisoner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An animal rights activist from Saransk has been remanded in custody on a charge of inciting violence and justifying terrorism for online comments about political prisoners<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018Political Prisoners. Memorial\u2019 human rights project, in accordance with <\/strong>international standards<\/strong><\/a>, considers Olga Sofronova-Moskvina a political prisoner. Sofronova-Moskvina is being prosecuted on charges of \u2018making calls to engage in extremism\u2019 and of \u2018justification of terrorism on the Internet\u2019 for comments on Telegram. Sofronova-Moskvina\u2019s criminal prosecution violates her right to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the release of Olga Sofronova-Moskvina and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the charges against Olga Sofronova-Moskvina?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olga Sofronova-Moskvina, a resident of Saransk, is an animal rights campaigner and a political activist. In March 2025, she was arrested and remanded in custody on a charge of \u2018making calls online to engage in extremism\u2019 (Article 280, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and \u2018justifying terrorism on the Internet\u2019 (Article 205.2, Part 2, CC RF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the investigative authorities, in September 2022, Sofronova-Moskvina commented on news reports about the torture of three young poets for giving readings on Mayakovsky Square<\/a> in Moscow. She wrote: \u2018When will they start destroying the cops?\u2019 In March 2023, Sofronova-Moskvina expressed support for Kirill Butilin, sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony for setting fire to a military enlistment office, offering to protect him from \u2018the attacks of terrorist Russia.\u2019 Olga faces up to 12 years\u2019 imprisonment if convicted on the two charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her trial is currently underway at a military court in Yekaterinburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we consider Olga Sofronova-Moskvina a political prisoner?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofronova-Moskvina is being tried solely for statements she made. When assessing such cases, it is necessary to take into account the context of the statements, the influence exercised by the author, the intent, and the likelihood that the words could have led to unlawful actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of the statements made by Sofronova-Moskvina contained direct calls for violence; none posed a real danger to the public. Sofronova-Moskvina’s comments about the \u2018Mayakovsky case\u2019 were an emotional reaction to reports of torture. They did not contain incitement to any action, were not disseminated as a call to action, and could not have had dangerous consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comment under the news item about Kirill Butilin’s sentence expressed sympathy for him as a person convicted of arson committed in protest against the war. Sofronova-Moskvina’s goal was not to justify terrorism, but to express her attitude towards an illegal prosecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In violation of both Russian and international law, which guarantee freedom of expression, the investigative authorities interpret emotional remarks as crimes to penalise criticism of those in power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A detailed description of Olga Sofronova-Moskvina\u2019s case and of our position is available on our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you help?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can write to Olga Sofronova-Moskvina at the following address: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RU:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

620024, \u0433. \u0415\u043a\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0431\u0443\u0440\u0433, \u0415\u043b\u0438\u0437\u0430\u0432\u0435\u0442\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u0448\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0435, \u0441\u0442\u0440. 19, \u0424\u041a\u0423 \u0421\u0418\u0417\u041e-5 \u0413\u0423\u0424\u0421\u0418\u041d \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0438 \u043f\u043e \u0421\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0434\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438, \u0421\u043e\u0444\u0440\u043e\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0430-\u041c\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0430 \u041e\u043b\u044c\u0433\u0430 \u0415\u0432\u0433\u0435\u043d\u044c\u0435\u0432\u043d\u0430, 1982 \u0433. \u0440.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EN: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olga Yevgenyevna Sofronova-Moskvina (born 1982), Remand Prison No. 5, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Sverdlovsk Oblast, 19 Yelizavetinskoe Shosse, Yekaterinburg, 620024, Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also send emails via ZT<\/a> (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France<\/a> (free of charge).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can donate<\/a> to help all political prisoners in Russia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-62391","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","regions-sverdlovsk-oblast","news-type-press-releases"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOlga Sofronova-Moskvina is a political prisoner - Political prisoners support. 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