A father of five from Moscow has been sentenced to three years in a penal colony for donating 1,500 rubles (approx. US$16) to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

The Presnensky District Court of Moscow has sentenced Dmitry Marsov, a father of five, to three years in a penal colony on charges of financing an extremist organisation (part 1 of article 282.3 of the Criminal Code). His lawyer from OVD-Info reported this.

The prosecution had requested four years and six months in a penal colony for him.

Marsov was arrested on 2 April this year. According to the investigation, from August to December 2021, the Moscow resident transferred 300 roubles (about US$3) each month to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). In total, over five months he sent the foundation 1,500 roubles (approx. US$16).

During questioning, as reported by Mediazona, Marsov explained that he has felt remorse for his actions since December 2021, when he stopped making donations. According to him, he signed up to donate to the FBK because of the “general idea” of fighting corruption. He noted that he had “let it go in one ear and out the other” and did not take seriously the information that the foundation had been designated an extremist organisation.

“There was no practical sense in it—all these people left Russia, it felt strange to pay for nothing, so I decided not to get involved,” Marsov said. He added that he later learned that FBK members “badmouth the country and the government.” He said that he is loyal to the Russian authorities.

Marsov agreed to cooperate with the investigation and pleaded guilty. During the search, he gave the security forces the passwords to his devices.

During the trial, one of Marsov’s lawyers noted that the total sum of his donations to the FBK “doesn’t even reach the minimum wage.” He added that Marsov “was hoping to achieve a certain good, but misunderstood it” and cancelled his subscription “out of a sense of patriotism.” The lawyers also requested that Marsov be given a sentence that did not involve imprisonment.

Marsov is a father of five children, three of whom are under 18. He supports them and his wife’s elderly grandmother. The Moscow resident is also concerned about inherited health problems.