Tatiana Laletina is a political prisoner

A student from Tomsk has been sentenced to nine years in a penal colony on a charge of treason for donating $30 to a Ukrainian fund

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Tatiana Laletina a political prisoner. Laletina was convicted on a charge of treason for making a donation of $30 to a Ukrainian fund. Laletina’s criminal prosecution violated her right to fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Tatiana Laletina from custody and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.

What were the charges against Tatiana Laletina?

Tatiana Laletina is a 21-year-old from Tomsk who was studying at a local teacher training college. She is passionate about drawing and ran a Telegram channel focused on this interest.

On 24 February 2022, the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Laletina transferred $10 to a Ukrainian fund. In April 2022, after reports emerged of atrocities committed by Russian forces in Bucha near Kyiv, she made another donation of $20.

Two years later, on 26 February 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a search of Laletina’s home. She was then charged with providing financial support to a foreign state in activities deemed to threaten Russia’s security (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code).

On 28 June 2024, a court in Tomsk sentenced Laletina to nine years in a general-regime penal colony. Her trial was in camera and the verdict has not been made public.

The details of Laletina’s case were shared by Ksenia Fadeeva, who had previously been charged in a case related to involvement in an ‘extremist’ group of Aleksei Navalny’s supporters. Fadeeva had shared a cell with Laletina.

Why do we consider Laletina a political prisoner?

We believe Laletina’s donations to Ukrainian funds were a genuine emotional response to the events unfolding around her. She wanted to support Ukrainians who had become victims of Russian aggression, not undermine Russia’s security.

Even if, by her actions, Laletina had wished to cause harm to Russia’s security, her donations were so small that they could hardly be regarded as a crime, let alone one warranting imprisonment.

We believe that it is not Laletina’s assistance to Ukrainians that threatens Russia’s security, but Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, which has been instigated by the Russian authorities.

The classification of treason cases and their conduct in camera violate the principle of transparency in the justice system and infringe Laletina’s rights.

A more detailed description of Tatiana Laletina’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?

You can write to Tatiana Laletina at the following address:

In Russian: 652050, Кемеровская область, г. Юрга, ул. Шоссейная, д. 2, ФКУ ИК-50 ГУФСИН по Кемеровской области, Лалетиной Татьяне Валерьевне 2003 г. р.

In English: Tatiana Valerievna Laletina (born 2003), Penal Colony No. 50, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Kemerovo Oblast, 2 Shosseynaya Street, Yurga, Kemerovo Oblast, 652050, Russia.

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

You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.