The Samara Regional Court sentenced eco-activist and artist Irina Izmailova to 20 years in prison, reported «First Department»*. In addition, she was fined 250 thousand rubles. The prosecution requested 24 years of imprisonment for Izmailova yesterday.
The girl was found guilty of «treason» in the form of «providing other assistance to a foreign state in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation», as well as possession and manufacturing of explosives — referring to 0.25 grams of acetone peroxide.
On September 1, 2023, employees of the FSB of Russia in the Samara region broke into Izmailova's apartment and conducted a search, during which they allegedly found traces of triacetone peroxide. Lawyers were not allowed to see the girl. It later emerged that a criminal case had been initiated against Izmailova for «illegal manufacturing of explosives». The investigation claimed they were «manufactured according to the instructions» of a curator from the SBU. After a night in the FSB building, the girl confessed and refused the help of human rights lawyers. It later turned out that investigators convinced her that under the guise of defenders, «Ukrainian poisoners» might come to her.
According to the investigation, in September 2022, while in Moldova, Irina Izmailova contacted an unidentified representative of the Ukrainian special services named Vitaly. He allegedly instructed her on «covert communication methods» and gave her money for tickets back to Russia.
Upon returning to Russia in November 2022, also according to the investigation, she took no action until March 2023. The FSB claims that it was after a trip to Turkey in March 2023, where she allegedly met with Vitaly again, that Izmailova began carrying out tasks for the Ukrainian special services.
It is claimed that from March to May 2023, Izmailova manufactured at least 0.25 grams of a simple homemade explosive — acetone peroxide. According to the FSB, «for transfer through a stash to an unidentified person as instructed by an unidentified representative of the Ukrainian special services <...> that is, for its further use by the Ukrainian special services against the security of the Russian Federation».
In addition, the investigation believes that on the orders of another «curator», Izmailova traveled to Turkey again in July 2023 to bring Gembird headphones to Russia. Allegedly, they contained printed circuit boards with radio elements and components, which were two «electrical detonators with programmable position sensors with a magnetometer function». The headphones were also intended for transfer to an «unidentified person».
Human rights activists believe that the reason for the criminal prosecution of the Samara resident was her anti-war stance, as the case materials indicate that she «adheres to a radical pro-Ukrainian ideology».
* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».
Photo: Zone of Solidarity