Sergei Irin
Sergei Irin, born 1979, Moscow. Charges: Article 275, Russian Criminal Code (Treason against the state); “Sergei Irin's case of high treason”. Sentence (August 25, 2025): 15 years' imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 1, 2024; place of detention: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Moscow. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, October 1, 2025.
In brief
Moscow · Moscow · IT specialists
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment in a strict-regime penal colony
Upheld January 13, 2026
Charges
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
Full wording of the charges
The charges stemmed from the transfer of 500 dollars to the "Come Back Alive" foundation.
Latest event
January 13, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, October 1, 2025
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Persecution begins
Sergei Irin's case of high treason
Criminal case
Sergei Irin's case of high treason
Write a letter
Facility: Pre-trial detention centre No. 1, Moscow
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
107076, г.Москва, ул. Матросская Тишина, дом 18, ФКУ СИЗО-1 УФСИН России по г. Москве ("Матросская тишина"), Ирин Сергей Николаевич, 1979 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A software engineer, used to work for Yandex. Shortly after the start of the full-scale invasion, he left Russia, lived in Turkey and Sri Lanka, and returned to Russia in April 2024. He was detained in Nizhnii Novgorod and arrested for five days under an administrative punishment on minor hooliganism (Section 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences), after which he was detained on 1 May on charges of high treason in connection with transferring money to the Ukrainian foundation "Come Back Alive". Irin later recounted that he was interrogated "with a stun gun". He was taken to Moscow, where he was taken into custody. On 26 August 2025, Irin was sentenced to 15 years in a strict-regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 275, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.