FSB announces arrest of LGBTQ+ activist on treason charges for sending money to Ukrainian armed forces

The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of a resident of the Orel region on suspicion of treason — “an LGBTQ+ activist, who previously changed his gender identity from a woman to a man.”

The FSB Public Relations Center, as quoted by Russian state media (including TASS), said in a statement that the detainee “made a non-cash money transfer to the settlement account of a Ukrainian financial institution in order to provide financial assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

They also announced that the detainee, whose name and surname were not disclosed, is a volunteer for human rights project OVD-Info, as well as “an administrator of a thematic anti-Russian information resource.”

A criminal case has been opened under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code (treason), which provides for punishment of up to 20 years or life in prison.