Vera Sidorkina
Vera Sidorkina, born 1976, Mari El. Charges: Article 205.5 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (An attempt to participate in the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 275, Russian Criminal Code (Treason against the state); “Vera Sidorkina's case of attempted involvement in the activities of a terrorist organisation and high treason”. Sentence (June 20, 2025): 18 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty. Status: imprisoned. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, December 5, 2025.
In brief
Mari El · Yoshkar-Ola · Shop assistants · Terrorism cases
Sentence
18 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty
Upheld March 13, 2026
Charges
- Article 205.5 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — An attempt to participate in the activities of a terrorist organization
- Article 275, Russian Criminal Code — Treason against the state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, in 2023, she contacted representatives of the Freedom of Russia Legion online and filled out an application form to join the unit as a medic or support worker; in July 2023, she received an e-mail message that her application to the Freedom of Russia Legion had been received and "they were ready to create conditions for her to join". She attempted to leave the country in August 2023 "using conspiracy measures"; "intended to cross the Russian State border with her child to join the enemy, but was stopped by border guards while trying to leave the country". In April 2024, she "sent to a user of a telephone number used by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine the said images with graphical markings of enterprises, accompanying them with textual comments on the functional purpose of the facilities, with a view to their being targeted by the armed forces of Ukraine".
Latest event
March 13, 2026 — appeal
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, December 5, 2025
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 18 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Vera Sidorkina's case of attempted involvement in the activities of a terrorist organisation and high treason
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
Vera Sidorkina's case of attempted involvement in the activities of a terrorist organisation and high treason
- Case number
- 2-161/2025
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Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Yoshkar-Ola. She spoke out against the war and was twice fined under the administrative article related to discrediting the Russian Armed Forces (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). In August 2023, she and her daughter were stopped from leaving Russia as they tried to go abroad. In April 2024, Sidorkina was detained and placed in custody on charges of attempted involvement in the activities of a terrorist organisation and high treason. According to the investigation, she intended to join the Freedom of Russia Legion and passed information to a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine "on the functional purpose of various facilities, with a view to their being targeted by the armed forces of Ukraine". On 20 June 2025, Sidorkina was sentenced to 18 years in a general regime penal colony.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 2 applied with Article 30 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.