Violence against police officers is one of the most common charges that Russian authorities bring against activists detained at protests. Natalya Filonova is an activist and journalist. She was detained during a peaceful anti-war protest in September 2022 and later sentenced to almost three years in prison for allegedly scratching two police officers with a pen. She needs your support.
What’s the problem?
Natalya Filonova has been an activist since the 1990s. She worked as a correspondent for a regional newspaper and later started publishing her own newspaper Vsemu naperekor (“Despite everything”).
Natalya was detained in Ulan-Ude on 26 September 2022, at a protest against mobilization for Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to the investigators, she attacked police officers while she was being taken to court. Natalya allegedly hit one police officer in the face and poked another in the face with a pen while in police transport. Natalya denies these allegations.
On 31 August 2023, she was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison under article 318 (1 and 2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – “using violence against representatives of the authorities”. This law is regularly used by the Russian to prosecute activists participating in assemblies.
Natalya has an adopted teenage son Vladimir who has a disability due to heart disease. He was placed in an orphanage after Filonova’s arrest, despite the fact that Filonova has relatives who are willing to take care of the boy and have repeatedly contacted the orphanage with a request to take him into their care.
People across Russia like Natalya are facing persecution for peaceful anti-war dissent. Russia must immediately release all those imprisoned for peacefully protesting.
What you can do to help
Send a message of support to Natalya Filonova now to show her she is not alone. Together we are more powerful.