Russia sentences 68-year-old Ukrainian citizen to 14 years in prison on treason charges
A court in Russia’s Kamchatka region has sentenced a 68-year-old Ukrainian-born man to 14 years in prison on treason charges, independent outlet Mediazona reported.
The Kamchatka Regional Court convicted Valery Dobrovolsky, a native of Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, on 22 September. The human rights group Memorial has recognised him as a political prisoner.
Details of the case have not been made public. According to Mediazona, Dobrovolsky was initially charged in March 2025 with confidential cooperation with a foreign state, but was ultimately tried for treason. The pensioner was held under house arrest during the investigation.
Court documents cited by the outlet quote Dobrovolsky as saying he had “long maintained contact with representatives of the SBU”, referring to Ukraine’s security service. His lawyer said he made no attempt to hide and appeared when summoned by the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Court materials also state that Dobrovolsky has serious “speech and cognitive impairments”. His health reportedly deteriorated sharply after his arrest.
According to leaked data, Dobrovolsky was born in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, where his sons still live. In 2023, he travelled to Ukraine to renew his Ukrainian passport before returning to Kamchatka. He likely also holds Russian citizenship.
