23 April 2025, 23:50
Rostov resident Elena Popova recognized as political prisoner
Human rights defenders have announced Elena Popova, a resident of the Rostov Region, sentenced to 12 years for transferring money to journalist Arkady Babchenko*, to be a political prisoner.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the fall of 2024, the court sentenced Elena Popova, a former civil servant, to 12 years of freedom deprivation, finding her guilty of transferring money to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The human rights project "Support for political prisoners. Memorial"* has recalled that the article under which Popova was convicted presupposes "the presence of direct intent to harm Russia’s security", but there are doubts that "the investigation could prove such Popova’s intent." Human rights defenders claim that Popova's goal, given her "civic position," was "most likely to help Ukraine."
It is also noted that Popova, according to investigators, had transferred money to Russian citizen Arkady Babchenko*, who is not a "foreign state, foreign or international organization, or a representative thereof," as required by the article of the Criminal Code.
*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 23, 2025 at 00:41 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: Caucasian Knot
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