A military court sentenced in absentia 17 and 18 years in prison to the founders of the organization Russian America for Democracy in Russia

The Southern District Military Court sentenced spouses Nadezhda and Dmitry Valuev to 17 and 18 years in prison in the case of financing the Ukrainian Azov (Part 4 of Article 205.1 of the Criminal Code). The press service of the court reported this.

According to the decision, Dmitry Valuev must spend the first three years in prison, and the rest of his term in a maximum security colony. TASS clarifies that the couple were sentenced in absentia.

According to the prosecution, on the day the Russian invasion of Ukraine began—February 24, 2022—the Valuevs living abroad “had a criminal intent.” They created two non-profit organizations in the United States, with the help of which they raised money for the Ukrainian army and organized protests against the “special military operation.”

Security officials claim that on January 5, 2024, the couple opened a collection “to support the activities” of the Ukrainian “Azov” and transferred at least 12.5 thousand US dollars to the formation.

Dmitry and Nadezhda Valuev are leaders of the organization Russian America for Democracy in Russia. It was created back in 2021, before the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the end of 2023, she was recognized as “undesirable” in Russia following a complaint from State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoy.

In a comment under Mediazona’s news about the verdict on Twitter, Dmitry Valuev wrote that the second organization that the “punitive authorities” probably meant was Freedom Birds for Ukraine. Its mission is to raise money to buy drones for the Ukrainian army.

Updated at 6:20 p.m. Added commentary by Dmitry Valuev about the second organization created by the spouses.