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.