November 13, 2026, 4:43 AMRSSRU
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Journalist

Mariia Ponomarenko

ImprisonedChecked November 10, 2026

Mariia Ponomarenko, born 1978, Altai Krai. Charges: Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code (Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government…); Article 321 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Use of violence or threat of violence against an employee of a place of deprivation of liberty or…); “Maria Ponomarenko's case”. Sentenced on June 3, 2026; previously convicted under Article 321 part 2, Russian Criminal Code. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since November 1, 2023; place of detention: Penal colony No. 6, Altai Krai. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, May 26, 2022.

In brief

Altai Krai · Barnaul, Rubtsovsk, village of Shipunovo · Journalists · Anti-war cases

Sentence

1 year 10 months

Imprisonment (general regime)

Verdict June 3, 2026

No information about an appeal ruling.

Other verdicts

  • June 3, 2026 — Imprisonment (general regime) — 2 years 3 months
  • March 27, 2025 — 1 year and 10 months' imprisonment in general regime penal colony

Charges

  • Article 321 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Use of violence or threat of violence against an employee of a place of deprivation of liberty or place of detention.
  • Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code — Dissemination of false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, government agencies, or mercenaries (based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on grounds of hatred or enmity in relation to any social group)

Latest event

November 10, 2026 — place of detention changed

Became known November 10, 2026 · checked November 10, 2026

Recognition by rights defenders

FACTUM stories

  • October 22, 2026

    Maria Ponomarenko: Three Prison Sentences After Reporting on Mariupol

    Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko has been imprisoned since April 2022 over a post about the bombing of Mariupol’s theatre. Her initial six-year sentence was followed by two convictions arising from disputes with prison staff. In October 2026 she reported isolation in a high-security cell unit and worsening mental health.

Timeline

  1. · Imprisonment begins

  2. · Court ruling

    guilty verdict

  3. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 1 year 10 months

  4. · Criminal case opened

    Maria Ponomarenko's case of violence that is not dangerous to the life or health

  5. · Appeal ruling

    upheld

  6. · First-instance verdict

    guilty verdict · 1 year 10 months

Criminal case

Maria Ponomarenko's case of violence that is not dangerous to the life or health

Case number
1-119/2026

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Maria Ponomarenko's case

Case number
1-14/2023 (1-624/2022;)

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Thematic group: Anti-war case

Maria Ponomarenko's case of assault on colony staff

There are no other defendants in this case in the database.

Write a letter

Facility: Penal colony No. 6, Altai Krai

Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)

658390, Алтайский край, Шипуновский р-н, с. Шипуново ул. Заводская, 48 а, ФКУ «ИК № 6 УФСИН России по Алтайскому краю», Пономаренко Мария Николаевна, 1978 г.р.

Address checked November 10, 2026

Details and sources

Full summary

According to OVD-Info

A correspondent for RusNews. In 2021, a preliminary investigation was carried out into possible repeated violations of regulations at public events, but no criminal case was ultimately opened. On 23 April 2022, she was detained in Saint Petersburg and was remanded in custody on 27 April. She was initially charged under Part 1 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code, but the investigator later reclassified the charge under the more serious Part 2. On 23 May it became known that Ponomarenko had been transferred to Barnaul.

In September, reports emerged that, owing to a serious deterioration in her mental health, she broke a window in her cell and cut her veins. She was then placed in solitary confinement. On 14 November she was moved to house arrest. On the night of 27 January, following a conflict with her ex-husband in the flat where she was living under house arrest, she went to a police station. The court subsequently changed her measure of restraint back to custody. On 15 February 2023, she was sentenced to six years in a general-regime penal colony.

After sentencing, she was transferred to another detention centre where, during a search, she was forced to strip. The incident triggered a severe outburst, after which force was used against her and she was sent to a psychiatric hospital for three days. In the penal colony, Ponomarenko has been prevented from sending documents on staff misconduct to her lawyer. Since 17 September she has also been denied correspondence, and she still has not received necessary medical treatment.

On 2 November 2023, a new criminal case was opened against her for allegedly causing minor harm to a member of the prison staff. During one hearing, the supposed victim admitted that they would not have filed a complaint against Ponomarenko of their own accord.

On 18 March 2025, her lawyer reported that she was on the verge of suicide. On 27 March 2025, she was sentenced in the second case to one year and ten months in a general-regime penal colony.

In August 2025, it was revealed that yet another case had been opened against Ponomarenko, again for allegedly causing minor bodily harm to a member of the prison staff.

All fields of the record
Citizenship
Russia
Persecution episodes
3
Sources (1)

Other people prosecuted under Article 207.3 part 2 item d, Russian Criminal Code

Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.

All 318 under this article →