Russia: Free Maria Ponomarenko

Maria Ponomarenko jailed for anti-war messages

Maria Ponomarenko shared a telegram post about the bombing of a theatre in Mariupol by Russian forces and denounced civilian deaths.

For this, she has been sentenced to six years in in prison for spreading “false information” about Russia’s Armed Forces (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) and a five-year ban on engaging in journalism upon her release.

A week into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia introduced war censorship laws to make protest against the invasion a grave offence.

War censorship laws criminalise spreading of “fakes” and “discreditation” of the Russian armed forces (Articles 207.3 and 280.3 of the Criminal Code). These laws aim to stop anti-war voices in Russia from being heard altogether.

She is being held in dire conditions, and her mental health is deteriorating.

Maria is a Prisoner of Conscience imprisoned solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression and must be released immediately and unconditionally.

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To: Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Igor Viktorovich Krasnov; The State Duma of the Russian Federation and Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Nikolayevna Moskalkova C/O Embassy of the Russian Federation Dear Prosecutor General, dear Deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, dear Commissioner for Human Rights, I write to call you to take all necessary steps to have Articles 207.3 and 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation repealed, as they violate Russia’s human rights commitments, and to ensure that all those jailed under them are immediately released. These laws introduced through new legislation include imprisonment for up to 15 years, and effectively deprive people in Russia of their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. Hundreds of people have already been unjustly imprisoned. This goes against Russia’s obligations under international human rights law. I therefore call on you to repeal Articles 207.3 and 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of all those deprived of their liberty solely for peacefully protesting the war. Sincerely,
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Maria Ponomarenko jailed for anti-war messages

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