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During closing arguments at the Timiryazevsky District Court in Moscow, the prosecution requested four years in a penal colony for Ukrainian national Lyudmila Gonchar, in a case concerning the funding of an extremist organisation (Part 1, Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by a Mediazona correspondent from the courtroom.
Gonchar is charged with making a single donation of 1,000 rubles (about US$11) to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) after a Russian court declared the organisation extremist in summer 2021.
In September 2024, Gonchar was declared wanted; in October, she was arrested in absentia. On 9 December, she was detained at Sheremetyevo airport and taken to a pre-trial detention centre. Her case began to be heard in May.
During the court session, prosecutor Yulia Pravosud read out witness testimony. According to Mediazona, Rashid Aleutdinov identified himself as Gonchar’s common-law partner and told investigators that she worked for him as an assistant, helping to find carers for elderly people and sometimes caring for clients herself. At the same time, Aleutdinov is legally married to another woman, who only learned about the criminal case when law enforcement officers came to her home to conduct a search.
According to Pravosud, Gonchar would travel to Ukraine several times a year, most recently in August 2024. She returned to Russia after Aleutdinov found her a new job.
Aleutdinov’s testimony revealed that border guards told Gonchar back in February 2024 that a transfer from her account had been made to the FBK. Gonchar then told her partner that she had not made any transfer and that it was a mistake. Afterward they visited Sberbank and closed the account, but did not go to the police because, as she put it: “the bank said that no statement would help.”
Aleutdinov’s phone number was linked to Gonchar’s bank card. He told investigators he used the card to receive payments from clients and distribute salaries. The investigator found that transfers from this card to the FBK had been made even before the organisation’s activities were banned. Aleutdinov maintained that he had nothing to do with the donation to the foundation.
Gonchar pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and declined to testify in court. The hearing included testimony the Ukrainian woman gave to an investigator during questioning. These statements suggested that Aleutdinov had made the transfer. Later, Gonchar stated that she had made the donation herself and refused to make any further statements in the case. Aleutdinov, meanwhile, denied telling Gonchar anything about the donation during his own questioning.
The investigator also conducted a face-to-face interview between Gonchar and Aleutdinov, where both confirmed their relationship. Gonchar, a Ukrainian national, further explained that she rarely used her bank card and that it had been set up for her common-law husband, whom she “completely trusted.” The defendant was unable to recall where, how, when, or why she had transferred money to the FBK. At the time of the transaction, the card was in Aleutdinov’s possession, and he received SMS notifications of transfers from the account. Gonchar also said she knew nothing about Navalny or his team.
Aleutdinov confirmed that the card was indeed in his possession. However, he insisted that Gonchar had made the donation, though he could not say why.
18:50 The Timiryazevsky District Court in Moscow sentenced Lyudmila Gonchar to three years in a penal colony. This was reported by Mediazona.
“Your Honour, I have respected and continue to respect the laws of the Russian Federation. I have never supported, shown any interest in, or had anything to do with any banned foundations or extremist organisations. Unfortunately, a serious mistake has occurred… Your Honour, I plead guilty and regret my actions. I hope for a fair sentence and ask for a more lenient punishment, not involving imprisonment. I am prepared to pay a fine,” Gonchar said in her final statement.