Yelena Perepelitsa sentenced to four years in a penal colony

Press Release, 8.10.2026

Photo: Yelena Perepelitsa during the reading of the sentence / Photo by Slovo Zashchite

Moscow’s Simonovsky District Court has today sentenced Yabloko member Yelena Perepelitsa to four years in a penal colony on charges of financing extremist activity (Article 282.3(1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The criminal prosecution was prompted by a transfer of 3,500 roubles to FBK*.

In her last word, Yelena rejected the charge of knowingly supporting FBK*. She explained that she had regularly donated money to people and charitable organisations, and that among her numerous payments she might have set up a subscription by mistake without noticing it. She emphasised that she supported Yabloko’s ideas and advocated the country’s evolutionary development through education and the humanisation of society.

“For me, extremism means aggression, intolerance, the inability to find constructive solutions, obsession, selfishness, irresponsibility and infantilism,” said Yelena. She said that knowingly financing extremist activity ran counter to her beliefs and principles in life.

The prosecution had asked for four years and six months in a general regime penal colony. In the closing arguments, lawyer Olga Pelsh stressed that the charge had not been proven, and that the allegation of Yelena’s direct intent to finance extremist activity was based on assumptions and not supported by the case materials. According to the lawyer, no evidence had been presented that Perepelitsa had known of FBK’s extremist status.

The defence asked for Yelena to be acquitted for lack of the elements of a crime. In the event of a guilty verdict, the lawyer asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence.

“For her many years of helping people, including victims of domestic violence, the homeless and refugees, and for her contribution to public life, Yelena deserves a monument, not four years behind bars for 3,500 roubles that she never intended to send to any extremist activity. We will seek her acquittal and release,” said Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov.

Kirill Goncharov, Chairman of Moscow Yabloko, called the sentence “utterly disproportionate and monstrous”. A statement by the Bureau of the Moscow branch says that “Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code relies on an overly broad concept of ‘extremism’ and is increasingly used as a tool to put pressure on people who have no connection whatsoever with violence”.

Yelena Perepelitsa was detained in Moscow on 2 July. Until sentencing, she had been held in Detention Facility No. 6.

*The Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) has been designated an extremist organisation in Russia, and its activities are banned.