Tamara Parshina is a political prisoner

A software engineer from Khabarovsk has been sentenced to eight years in a penal colony on a charge of treason for transferring 2,500 roubles to Ukrainian funds

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Tamara Parshina a political prisoner. Tamara Parshina was convicted of treason for making money transfers that the authorities interpreted as funding the Ukrainian armed forces. Tamara Parshina’s prosecution and conviction violated her right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Tamara Parshina and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.

What were the charges against Tamara Parshina?

Early in March 2023, Tamara Parshina was detained in Khabarovsk. On 9 March she was remanded in custody and transferred to Moscow’s Lefortovo remand prison. In an FSB press release, she was labelled an activist of the movement in support of the jailed Khabarovsk Krai governor Sergei Furgal and charged with treason for providing financial assistance to a foreign state for activities against Russia’s security (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, ‘being in disagreement with the special military operation carried out by the Russian armed forces,’ she transferred 2,500 roubles in small sums ‘to the accounts of Ukrainian funds collecting money to purchase weapons, ammunition, and uniforms for the Ukrainian armed forces opposing Russia’s special military operation.’

The trial was swift. It is presumed that Parshina pleaded guilty and entered into a plea bargain, receiving a sentence below the minimum stipulated for the charges against her. On 4 October 2023, a court in Khabarovsk sentenced Tamara Parshina to eight years in a general regime penal colony.

Why do we consider Tamara Parshina a political prisoner?

We believe the criminal prosecution of Tamara Parshina was unfounded and politically motivated. Even if we assume that she did indeed transfer money for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, her actions did not constitute a crime.

Under international law, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is unlawful and criminal. In this context, the transfer of money to the Ukrainian armed forces cannot be considered a crime. Assistance to Ukraine is aimed at defending that country from military aggression, not harming Russia’s security. The real threat to Russia’s security comes from the war itself, which was launched by its own government.

The categorisation of Tamara Parshina as a member of the movement in support of Sergei Furgal, effectively invented by the authorities, emphasised the political nature of her prosecution.

A detailed description of Tamara Parshina’s case and of our position is 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?

If you know where Tamara Parshina is being held, please inform us via the bot or email us at: [email protected]

You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia..