Dolite Sinitsyna is a political prisoner

A pensioner from Nakhodka has been sentenced to one and a half years in a penal colony for anti-war comments on the Odnoklassniki social media platform 

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Dolite Sinitsyna a political prisoner. Sinitsyna has been convicted of inciting extremism for anti-war online posts. Sinitsyna’s prosecution violated her rights to freedom of expression and fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Dolite Sinitsyna and that all criminal charges against her be dropped. 

What are the charges against Dolite Sinitsyna?

Dolite Sinitsyna, a resident of Primorsky Krai in Russia’s Far East, is a retired history teacher. She was engaged in civic activism and in 2017 ran for election to Nakhodka City Duma.

On 5 September 2022, a criminal case was opened against Sinitsyna on a charge of incitement of extremism (Article 280, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). The same day, her house was searched, after which she was interrogated by the FSB.

Sinitsyna was charged with posting comments on the Odnoklassniki social media platform on 19 and 31 May 2022. The comments were critical of Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to some sources, she wrote ‘Death to the fasZzZcist occupiers!!!’ and ‘Russia is a fascist state.’ Forensic expertise considered that the posts incited violence against the Russian military. 

On 25 May 2023, Dolite Sinitsyna was sentenced to 18 months in a low security penal colony. The verdict was upheld on appeal. Since the end of August 2023, Sinitsyna has been serving her sentence in the penal colony, where her health has deteriorated.

Why do we consider Sinitsyna a political prisoner?

The article on incitement of extremism is used by the Russian authorities to persecute dissidents. The courts do not check whether alleged ‘calls to extremism’ have any socially dangerous consequences. This article is applied selectively: it is never used to prosecute pro-government propagandists who publicly call for people to be killed for their nationality, ethnicity, or political views.

Sinitsyna’s prosecution was solely on account of anti-war comments on social media that posed no danger to society. On the contrary, such comments were socially useful, given that they expressed disagreement with Russia’s war of aggression. 

Sinitsyna neither committed nor incited any acts of violence. Phrases such as ‘death to fasZzZcist occupiers’ are not necessarily calls to action. They may simply express the author’s extremely negative attitude towards Russia’s war against Ukraine.

A detailed description of the case of Dolite Sinitsyna and our position are available on our website.

Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.

How can you help?

You can write to Dolite Sinitsyna at the following address:

In Russian: 690074, г. Владивосток, ул. Выселковая, 48, ФКУ КП-49 ГУФСИН России по Приморскому краю, Синицыной Долите Альберто, 1957 г. р.

In English: Dolite Alberto Sinitsyna (born 1957), Low Security Penal Colony No. 49, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Primorsky Krai, 48 Vyselkovaya Street, Vladivostok, 690074, Russia.

You can send an email via Zonatelecom (Russian bank cards), PrisonMail (other bank cards) or OVD-Info (free of charge).

Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.

You can donate to support all political prisoners in Russia.