Ivan Semykoz and Valeriy Koziuberda are political prisoners
Young men from Ukraine’s Luhansk region have been charged with financing terrorism for donating to the Azov Brigade
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Ivan Semykoz and Valeriy Koziuberda political prisoners. The two young men are being prosecuted on criminal charges of financing terrorism for the alleged transfer of small sums of money to the Azov Brigade. Their criminal prosecution violates their right to a fair trial. We demand their immediate release and that all criminal charges against them be dropped.
What are the charges against Ivan Semykoz and Valeriy Koziuberda?
Ukrainians Ivan Semykoz from Luhansk and Valeriy Koziuberda from Bilovodsk in Luhansk Oblast have been charged with financing terrorism (Article 205.1, Part 1.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the prosecution, in 2022 then-17-year-old Koziuberda donated approximately 2,000 roubles to the Azov Brigade and, in 2024, 19-year-old Semykoz transferred 50 Ukrainian hryvnias to the same unit.
The trial of Valeriy Koziuberda has been ongoing since November 2024.
On 28 January 2025, a military court convicted Ivan Semykoz and sentenced him to eight years and six months’ imprisonment. He is to serve the first two years of his sentence in a cell-type prison and the remainder in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Semykoz and Koziuberda political prisoners?
Even if these two young men did transfer funds to the Azov Brigade, this is no grounds for criminal prosecution. The Azov Brigade is a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard. The Russian Supreme Court’s designation of the Brigade as a terrorist organisation is groundless and unlawful, motivated by propaganda objectives in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Under international law, the prosecution of residents of occupied Ukrainian territories under Russian law constitutes a violation of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
It is also worth noting that Koziuberda was a minor at the time he made the transfer, while the sums involved in both cases were negligible. Even if the actions were criminal in nature, prosecution — let alone imprisonment — for such minor actions is wholly disproportionate.
A detailed description of Valeriy Koziuberda’s and Ivan Semykoz’s cases 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 have information regarding the location of Valeriy Koziuberda or Ivan Semykoz, please contact us via our Telegram bot or by email at [email protected]
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