Mark Kislitsyn is a political prisoner
An LGBT activist has been sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony on a charge of treason for transferring $10 to Ukraine
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Mark Kislitsyn a political prisoner. Kislitsyn was convicted on a charge of treason for transferring $10 to Ukraine. Kislitsyn’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand his immediate release and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
Who is Mark Kislitsyn and what were the charges against him?
Mark Kislitsyn is an anti-war and LGBT activist from Moscow who volunteers with OVD-Info. He is a transgender man. On 25 February 2022, he transferred $10 to the National Bank of Ukraine, which had set up an account to collect funds for the Ukrainian armed forces.
As a result, a criminal case was initiated against Mark Kislitsyn on a charge of treason for providing assistance to a foreign state engaged in activities directed against the security of Russia (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code). Kislitsyn was arrested on 12 July 2023 and remanded in custody. The investigative authorities claimed he had made negative statements online about the ‘special military operation’ (SVO), ‘insulted the president’, and corresponded on the VK social media site with a resident of Kyiv, from whom he allegedly ‘received instructions.’ In a search of his home, the authorities found human rights literature and anti-war stickers.
Kislitsyn maintained his innocence of the charge of treason, stating that he is a pacifist, and that the money was transferred for humanitarian reasons.
On 22 December 2023, Mark Kislitsyn was sentenced to 12 years in a general regime penal colony, a fine of 200,000 roubles and one year of probation upon release. Based on medical documents and forensic expertise, the court ruled that Kislitsyn should serve his sentence in a women’s penal colony. On 3 June 2024, the verdict was upheld on appeal.
Why do we consider Mark Kislitsyn a political prisoner?
Kislitsyn’s actions contained no evidence of a crime. Under international law, Russia’s war against Ukraine is an act of aggression. Even if Kislitsyn had indeed transferred funds to support the Ukrainian armed forces, he would have been assisting Ukraine in defending itself, not attempting to harm the security of Russia.
Kislitsyn’s money transfer, on the second day after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was a spontaneous emotional reaction and an act of solidarity with victims of the attack.
Kislitsyn’s actions presented no danger to the public. A transfer of just $10 is trivial and should not be considered a crime. The 12-year sentence handed down for such a minor act is absurd.
The verdict against Kislitsyn was handed down in Moscow City Court by Judge Andrei Suvorov, known for his bias in politically motivated cases. Mark Kislitsyn is a transgender man, and therefore serving a long sentence in a penal colony will be especially difficult for him.
A detailed description of Mark Kislitsyn’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with or approves of their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Mark Kislitsyn at the following address:
In Russian: 630039, Новосибирск, ул. Гусинобродское шоссе, д. 114, ФКУ ИК-9 ГУФСИН России по Новосибирской области, Кислицыну Марку Алексеевичу 1997 г. р.
In English: Mark Alekseevich Kislitsyn (born 1997), Penal Colony No. 9, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Novosibirsk Oblast, 114 Gusinobrodskoe Shosse, Novosibirsk, 630039, Russia.
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with Russian bank cards), OVD-Info and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
Up-to-date information on Mark Kislitsyn’s situation can be followed on his support group’s Telegram channel.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia.
