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Mark Kislitsyn was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony for "high treason" in December 2023 after donating the equivalent of $10 to what he believed was a humanitarian fund supporting people affected by the war in Ukraine. Sign the petition calling for his immediate release.

Russian authorities claimed the money supported Ukraine’s armed forces, but Mark donated purely for humanitarian reasons. His conviction has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with silencing dissent. 

Mark is a transgender man and human-rights defender from Moscow - he had been outspoken against the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and consistently advocated for equality and LGBTI+ rights. For that, he’s now imprisoned over 3,000 kilometres from his home in Moscow, in a women’s penal colony, where he’s forced to wear women’s clothing, denied gender-affirming medical treatment, and frequently thrown into solitary confinement on fabricated grounds.

Mark’s courage and compassion represents the very best of humanity, yet the Russian authorities have branded him a traitor for standing up for peace. His imprisonment exposes the growing repression in Russia, where laws targeting LGBTI+ people and anti-war voices have created a climate of fear and violence. 

No one should face prison for defending human rights, expressing solidarity, or being themselves. Call on the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mark Kislitsyn, ensure his safety and medical care while in detention, and uphold the right to freedom of expression for all. 

Together, Australians can add our voices to the global movement demanding his freedom because defending peace is never a crime. 

Sign the petition today to help free Mark Kislitsyn. 

Sign the Petition

  Our Petition
 
 

Embassy of the Russian Federation, Canberra 
78 Canberra Avenue 
Griffith ACT 2603  

Your Excellency, 

I am deeply concerned about the imprisonment and ongoing mistreatment of Mark Kislitsyn, a transgender man and human-rights defender from Moscow. 

In December 2023, Mark was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony for “high treason”, accused of making a small donation – approximately 865 roubles (about ten Australian dollars) – to what he believed was a humanitarian fund supporting people affected by the war in Ukraine. His actions were motivated solely by compassion and humanitarian concern. There is no evidence that his donation posed any threat to national security. 

Mark’s case is emblematic of the growing repression in Russia, where peaceful activism and expressions of solidarity are being punished under vague and politically motivated laws. His conviction is unjust and violates Russia’s obligations under international human-rights law, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful association. 

While imprisoned in the women’s penal colony IK-9 in Novosibirsk, more than 3,000 kilometres from his home, Mark has been denied access to gender-affirming medical care, forced to wear women’s clothing, and repeatedly placed in punishment cells (SHIZO) on spurious grounds. These conditions amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. 

I therefore call on Russian authorities to: 

  • Immediately and unconditionally release Mark Kislitsyn and quash his conviction; 
  • Ensure that, while in detention, he is protected from harassment, torture and other ill-treatment; 
  • Guarantee his access to appropriate medical treatment, including gender-affirming care, in line with international standards; and 
  • End the harassment and persecution of individuals exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. 

Mark’s peaceful activism and compassion should be celebrated, not punished. I urge the Russian authorities to act in accordance with international human-rights obligations and release him immediately. 

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]