Political prisoner from Buryatia, who refused pardon, faces tightened imprisonment conditions

Natalia Filonova, a human rights defender and pensioner, has been placed under stricter imprisonment conditions, leading to the cancellation of a visit planned for August. She is now allowed only three brief visits per year.

Filonova’s conditions were tightened on June 24 due to "violations of the regime." Previously, she was placed in a punitive cell three times: once for defending another inmate before the penal colony administration and then for sharing hygiene products with another convict. Later, a planted book and a nightgown were found under her mattress.

In August 2023, Filonova was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison for assaulting a police officer during an anti-mobilization rally. Her adopted son was sent to an orphanage, where he reportedly faced physical abuse.

This year, Natalia Filonova was included in the pardon list for March 8 but declined it. Read our article to learn how Natalia expressed her disagreement with the war and faced the state’s repressive policies.

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