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The 1st Eastern District Military Court has sentenced 86-year-old Sakhalin human rights defender Mark Kuperman to a fine of 500,000 roubles (approximately US$5,400) in a case regarding alleged calls for terrorism (Part 2, Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by the outlet “Govorit NeMoskva.”
The human rights defender has also been banned from publishing anything online for two years.
“I have been found guilty of publicly calling for terrorism! This is nonsense! I am against any wars other than defensive wars, meaning I am also against the so-called 'special military operation', as such actions contradict both the UN Charter and the Helsinki Accords, which oblige our country to uphold the inviolability of postwar borders as a basis for peace in Europe. It also destroys the highest human right—the right to life. This is my opinion, and I am entitled to share it under Articles 29, 2, and 15 of the current Constitution. But I never called on anyone to use violence! We will be filing an appeal,” said Kuperman.
At the trial, a former colleague of the human rights defender acted as a key witness for the prosecution. According to Kuperman, this individual agreed to cooperate with investigators under pressure—they were reportedly threatened with criminal prosecution as they were seeking to avoid military service.
The case was initiated based on a message sent via Telegram. According to law enforcement, the man allegedly sent a document entitled “The West’s Plan to Participate in Regime Change in Russia: Humanitarian Occupation” to “an unidentified group of individuals.” Kuperman says he has never seen or distributed such a document.
During an official search in April 2024, law enforcement seized all his electronic devices. Initially, Kuperman was considered a suspect, but on 28 April he was formally charged under the article for calls for extremism (Part 2, Article 280 of the Criminal Code). He was not taken in for questioning due to his disability—he is unable to walk. In December, the charge was reclassified as one of calling for terrorism.
Searches were also conducted at the homes of nine of his colleagues from the human rights organisation “For Human Rights” on Sakhalin, an island in the Russian Far East. All of them are considered witnesses in the case.