Ai-Tana Tugudina, a resident of Gorno-Altaisk, left Russia after a court verdict that sentenced her to eight months of forced labor in the case of re-discrediting the Russian army (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by Sibir.Realii.
Tugudina said that after the verdict came into force, she was required to come to a correctional center to undergo forced labor with 10% of her income withheld in favor of the state. But, since there is no such center for women in Gorno-Altaisk, the convict had to be sent to Biysk.
“I don’t want to comply with this court decision and live in another city in a correctional center. They called me from the Federal Penitentiary Service, I said that I was abroad. I think they might put me on the wanted list,” the woman added.
She also clarified that she left Russia with her minor son, whom the court decided to hand over to the guardianship authorities.
The case against the girl was opened because of comments in a telegram under the news about another resident of Altai, who allegedly wanted to help the Ukrainian special services. According to the court, Tugudina, “realizing the criminal nature of her actions,” published messages in which she spoke negatively about the actions of the Russian army in Ukraine. She was sentenced on August 1, and at the end of September it was approved by the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic.
A case under Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code can be brought against those who have at least once been brought to justice under the administrative article on discrediting. SOTA notes that in April 2022, Tugudina was fined 30 thousand rubles under the administrative article on discredit (part 1 of article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code).
Memorial recognized Ai-Tana Tugudina as a political prisoner.
- Since February 24, 2022—the first day of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine—residents of Russian cities have been holding anti-war protests every day and talking about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become grounds for criminal prosecution. At the moment, more than 750 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. Read more about this in our infographic .
- Article 280.3 (Public actions aimed at discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation) was included in the Criminal Code in March 2022 - in this way the government responded to anti-war speeches and statements, as well as the dissemination of information about the war that does not come from official Russian sources. On March 14, 2023, the State Duma adopted amendments increasing the maximum penalty under this article, since then it has been seven years in prison.