Elena Popova was sentenced in Russia to 12 years in prison for treason due to transferring funds
MOSCOW, Nov 21, 2024 (Freedom Person)
The case of Elena Popova, a resident of the Rostov Region convicted under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ("State Treason"), has garnered widespread public attention. The primary charge against her involved a financial transaction—specifically, the transfer of funds to individuals opposing Russia's military operation in Ukraine.
On October 30, 2024, the Rostov Regional Court sentenced Elena Sergeevna Popova (born in 1988) to 12 years in prison and imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles. According to the indictment, she transferred 7,000 rubles on February 27, 2022, to an account belonging to journalist Arkady Babchenko. Prosecutors alleged this act constituted state treason under Article 275, as it was framed as aiding activities harmful to Russian national security, as reported by the human rights project First Department.
In the fall of 2023, an investigation began, culminating in searches of Popova’s home and her parents' residence. Initially, she was detained for 10 days on minor administrative charges of disorderly conduct. This was followed by two additional detentions, leading to a total of 35 days in custody. Upon her release from the third detention, she was formally charged with treason.
The charges stemmed from a single financial transaction made shortly after the start of hostilities in Ukraine. Prior to her arrest, Popova had been dismissed from her position at the Central Bank of Russia and had been summoned by the police for what was described as a "routine inquiry." She was reassured at the time that no further action would be taken.
The case included an anonymous witness who described Popova as a political dissenter, a supporter of Alexei Navalny, and sympathetic to Ukraine. In November 2023, a federal TV network, REN TV, alleged that Popova had transferred over 330,000 rubles since 2018 to accounts purportedly linked to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). It was claimed these funds were knowingly used to support Ukrainian military operations, including strikes on civilian infrastructure in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Popova’s family, including her cousin Tatiana, has refuted the allegations, asserting that Popova regularly made charitable donations to support women, children, and animals. They argue that the government exploited her trust during a turbulent time when many individuals made donations to bloggers and organizations without fully understanding the potential implications. Tatiana also highlighted the personal toll of the sentence, noting that Popova would be 47 years old upon release, effectively denying her the opportunity to become a mother.
Popova’s case represents a high-profile example of the application of state treason laws against civilians in Russia, raising critical concerns about the legal definition and use of treason in targeting dissent. It has intensified debates about the legitimacy of criminalizing financial support for organizations or individuals perceived as oppositional to state policies.
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V. Ivanenko by Freedom Person
