Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - A 21-year-old Russian student with cerebral palsy has been sentenced to 12 years in a maximum-security prison for treason, after sending a €33 online donation to support Ukraine, according to reports by independent Russian media.
Andrei Glukhov, a second-year student at Volgograd
Polytechnic College, was arrested following a September 2024 search of the
apartment he shared with his mother. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)
seized computer equipment and interrogated him, later placing him in detention
in October.
According to his father, Eduard Glukhov, Andrei has limited
mobility, with his right arm and leg affected by his condition. “My son’s right
arm and leg don’t work well,” he told independent news outlet Mediazona, adding
that Andrei spent most of his time at home and opposed Russia’s full-scale
invasion of Ukraine.
Eduard explained that Andrei had made online contact with
someone who claimed to be Ukrainian and encouraged donations to support peace
efforts. “Twice, for 1,500 rubles each (€16.60), my son says he transferred the
money — and that’s it,” he said.
The court found Andrei guilty under Article 275 of Russia’s
Criminal Code, which covers treason. The verdict was handed down on May 29,
following a month-long trial.
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities have
increasingly used treason charges to prosecute individuals for actions
perceived as sympathetic to Ukraine, including online comments and humanitarian
donations.
The case has sparked outrage among human rights advocates and
independent media, who argue that Russian authorities are targeting vulnerable
individuals and using excessive punishments for minor acts of dissent.
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