Natalya Filonova is a 61-year-old pensioner and a dedicated veteran human rights activist and journalist who has been advocating for social justice since the 1990s. She initially worked as a correspondent for a regional newspaper and later launched her own publication, “Vsemu naperekor” (Despite everything), to voice her concerns.
On September 26, 2022, Natalya was arrested during a peaceful protest in Ulan-Ude against the mobilization for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Authorities accused her of “attacking police officers” while being transported to court, claiming she struck one officer and poked another with a pen. However, Natalya denies these allegations.
On August 31, 2023, she was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code, which addresses “violence against police officers”. This law is frequently used by the Russian government to target activists involved in protests.
Natalya’s arrest has had a profound impact on her family. She has an adopted teenage son, Vladimir, who has a disability due to heart disease. Following her detention, he was placed in an “orphanage”, despite the availability of relatives willing to care for him. Vladimir is being kept in “prison conditions” in juvenile detention away from the rest of his family. These relatives have made multiple requests to the orphanage for Vladimir’s custody.
The situation faced by Natalya Filonova is emblematic of the persecution many activists in Russia encounter for their “peaceful anti-war dissent”. Human rights organizations, including the Rights Defenders Initiative, have condemned the Russian government for violating human rights obligations and are calling for the immediate release of individuals imprisoned for protesting peacefully.
References:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/solidarity-for-russian-activist-natalya-filonova/
