Moscow court jails ‘Nemtsov Bridge’ activist for 3.5 years for donating to Anti-Corruption Foundation

A Moscow court has sentenced activist Viktor Levakov to 3.5 years in prison for donating money to Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation. Levakov, a volunteer who helped maintain a makeshift memorial to the slain opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, says he was unaware of the foundation’s illegal “extremist” status when he sent the money. 

Levakov’s lawyer argued in court that prosecutors never proved that his client’s donations reached the organization or how they were spent. He allegedly sent 3,500 rubles (roughly $50) in multiple payments to the anti-corruption group after it was outlawed in mid-2021. Levakov said he made a mistake and “doesn’t plan to repeat it.” He also asked not to be incarcerated because his father is seriously ill. 

According to the human rights group Memorial, Russian law enforcement has opened at least 27 felony cases related to donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Three other cases concluded earlier this month ended with fines ranging from 300,000 rubles to 420,000 rubles ($3,500–$4,850).