On October 30, 2024, the Rostov Regional Court sentenced Elena Popova to 12 years in prison and a 500,000 fine for 'treason'. The basis for the criminal case was her transfer of 7,000 rubles to blogger Arkady Babchenko.
According to 'First Department'*, the Rostov resident made the transfer on February 27, 2022, and in the fall of 2023, she was summoned to the police station for a 'talk'. There she was asked to write an explanation regarding the transfer to Babchenko, assured that it was a standard procedure. Later, it would be revealed in court that the police officer lied to Elena — he immediately forwarded her explanation to the FSB.
Three months later, law enforcement officers came with a search to her and her parents' home, after which she was given an administrative arrest for 10 days under the article 'hooliganism'. Popova was accused of hooligan behavior three times, spending a total of 35 days in detention. Her father came to pick her up three times and witnessed her being taken away by the police each time. According to documents, Popova 'swore loudly' and 'twisted her arms' not even at the exit from the detention center, but in places she could not possibly reach in the five minutes she had between arrests.
After the third administrative arrest, the girl was charged with 'treason'. Rosfinmonitoring provided extracts from Popova's account, which became evidence of her guilt. The case also involves a secret witness. The relatives could not find out who this was. He provided the court with a characterization of Popova from work, which was read at the court hearing on the choice of preventive measure. According to him, she was an outspoken oppositionist, openly supporting Navalny** and not hiding her pro-Ukrainian stance. Those present at the court say that this characterization sounded as if this 'secret witness' opened a manual and picked out all the scary words from there.
Now, for the transfer of 7,000 rubles and the characterization 'from colleagues', Elena Popova will spend 12 years in a high-security colony on charges of 'treason'.
* Recognized as 'foreign agents' in Russia.
Photo: First Department