Natalia Golfiner
Natalia Golfiner, born 1974, Rostov Oblast. Charges: Article 205.5 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organizing the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 278, Russian Criminal Code (Violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order); “The case of military service in the Azov regiment”. Sentence (March 26, 2025): 14 years' imprisonment in absentia. Status: not in Russia. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 12, 2024.
In brief
Rostov Oblast · Rostov-on-Don · Former military personnel · Terrorism cases
Sentence
14 years
imprisonment in absentia
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 205.5 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organizing the activities of a terrorist organization
- Article 278, Russian Criminal Code — Violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order
Latest event
March 26, 2025 — first-instance verdict
The court delivered a guilty verdict: 14 years.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 12, 2024
Timeline
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 14 years
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Rostov Region
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Persecution begins
The case of military service in the Azov regiment
Criminal case
The case of military service in the Azov regiment
Other defendants in the case
- Elena Avramova — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Nina Bondarenko — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Alena Bondarchuk — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Artem Grebeshkov — Imprisoned, 20 years
- Arthur Gretzkii — Imprisoned, 22 years
- Anatolii Gritsyk — Imprisoned, 13 years
- Oleg Zharkov — Imprisoned, 13 years
- Iaroslav Zhdamarov — Imprisoned, 22 years
- Aleksandr Irkha — Imprisoned, 20 years
- Alexander Ishchenko — Deceased
- David Kasatkin — Not in Russia, 15 years
- Dmitrii Labinskii — Not in Russia, 23 years
- Vladislava Maiboroda — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Alexander Merochenets — Imprisoned, 22 years
- Oleg Mizhgorodskyy — Imprisoned, 17 years
- Irina Mogitich — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Alexander Mukhin — Imprisoned, 22 years
- Lilia Pavrianidis — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Lilia Rudenko — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Alexey Smykov — Imprisoned, 23 years
- Marina Tekin — Not in Russia, 13 years
- Nikita Timonin — Imprisoned, 22 years
- Oleg Tyshkul — Imprisoned, 22 years
Details and sources
Full summary
She was the head of the food warehouse in the Ukrainian regiment "Azov" from April 2019 to 15 January 2022. After the war started, she refused to go to work. She was detained in Mariupol on 7 April 2022. She was accused of organising the activities of a terrorist organisation and forcible seizure and retention of power. Human rights activists note that she is a prisoner of war, so she should not have been held criminally liable for combat participation, and in addition, they consider the charges absurd.
On 13 September 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Golfiner was returned to Ukraine as part of an exchange. On 26 March 2025, she was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Ukraine
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.