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Trans Man Receives 12-Year Prison Sentence for Anti-War Activism

Mark Kislitsyn, a human rights and LGBTI activist from Moscow, protested against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was arrested on July 12, 2023 for “high treason.” Hours after the invasion, he sent about $10 to a Ukrainian bank account, which Russian authorities said funded Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Mark maintained that he made the transfer for humanitarian reasons and didn’t know about the account’s purpose.

On December 23, 2023, the Moscow City Court sentenced Mark Kislitsyn to 12 years' imprisonment in a penal colony.

Mark, a transgender man, was sent to a female colony. There, he is forced to wear women’s clothing and is not receiving gender-affirming hormonal treatment, risking his health. Since November 2024, Mark has repeatedly been arbitrarily placed in a punishment cell on spurious grounds, enduring inhuman and degrading conditions including prolonged solitary confinement and numbing cold.

Before his arrest, Mark volunteered for Russian human rights initiatives and was actively involved in animal rights and LGBTI activism.

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Head of the Penal Colony

Ivan

Savelyev

Head of the Penal Colony IK-9 in Novosibirsk

Dear Head of the Penal Colony IK-9 in Novosibirsk,

I am writing to express deep concern about the treatment of civic and human rights activist Mark Kislitsyn, who is imprisoned in Penal Colony IK-9, Novosibirsk Region. According to reports, Mark is subjected to regular pressure from the prison authorities. He is repeatedly placed in a punishment cell (SHIZO) on spurious grounds and subjected to other forms of ill-treatment. He is being held in inhuman and degrading conditions, including prolonged solitary confinement and numbing cold.

I urge you to ensure that while imprisoned, Mark Kislitsyn is protected from unfair repression by the prison authorities and from groundless placements in the punishment cell (SHIZO). He must be safeguarded from harassment, torture, and other ill-treatment, and his treatment must fully comply with international law and standards.

I also call on you to do everything possible to secure Mark Kislitsyn’s immediate release from prison. Mark’s persecution is politically motivated and must be stopped.

Sincerely,

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