25-year-old Samara resident Polina Yevtushenko was charged under six articles of the Criminal Code; the girl could face up to 22.5 years in prison. This was reported by the First Department.
A case of preparation for high treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code with the application of Part 1 of Article 30 of the Criminal Code) was opened against Yevtushenko in the summer of 2023 due to the fact that she allegedly persuaded another resident of Samara to join the “Freedom of Russia” Legion to participate in the war on the side of Ukraine. On July 13, the court sent Yevtushenko under arrest for two months, until September 11. Later, a case was also opened against the girl under the article on calls for terrorism (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code) - due to publications about the Legion.
Later, the girl was also charged with articles on financing terrorism (Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Criminal Code) and calls for extremism on the Internet (Part 2 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code). Today it became known that the girl was also accused of spreading “fakes” about the Russian army motivated by hatred (clause “e” of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) and rehabilitation of Nazism (Part 4 of Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code).
Yevtushenko is charged with two counts under the article on calls for “extremism”, four on the article on justifying terrorism, and three on “fakes” about the army.
Yevtushenko’s daughter Alisa, who turned six on March 1, is still at large.
You can support the activist by sending her a letter through the Zonatelecom service or by regular mail:
443047, Samara region, Samara, st. Utevskaya, 18A, IK-15, PFRSI, Evtushenko Polina Sergeevna, born in 1998.
The Russian Freedom Legion is a military unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, formed mainly from Russian prisoners of war and volunteers. In March 2023, the Russian Supreme Court declared the organization terrorist and banned its activities. Russians are often brought to administrative responsibility for the symbols used by the Legion, including the white-blue-white flag.
In March 2023, RAPSI noted that at least 20 criminal cases have been opened in Russia regarding connections with the Legion. Such cases are opened under articles on calls for terrorism (Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code), sabotage (Article 281 of the Criminal Code), treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code), participation in an armed formation for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation (Article 208 of the Criminal Code) and cooperation with a foreign state on a confidential basis (Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code).
Information about these cases is mainly disseminated by security forces. Their messages often talk about tasks allegedly received by the defendants through telegram correspondence: arson, distributing leaflets or transmitting data. Most often, in such cases, we are talking exclusively about the intention to commit such actions.