Criminal10/11/2026

Israeli Citizen Sentenced in Russia to 3.5 Years in a Penal Colony Over a Donation

A Moscow court sentenced scientist Sofia Rosenfeld, who holds Russian and Israeli citizenship, to three and a half years in a penal colony. The grounds were a donation of 2,000 rubles—about 100 shekels—to the Anti-Corruption Foundation established by Alexei Navalny.

Key facts

•The convicted person: Sofia Rosenfeld, age 50
•The court: a Moscow court; its exact name was not specified
•The sentence: 3 years and 6 months in a penal colony
•The donation: 2,000 rubles, about 100 shekels
•The funds were transferred in 2021
•The article was updated on October 11, 2026

Who Was Convicted

Sofia Rosenfeld is 50 years old, holds a doctorate in biology, and works at the Russian Academy of Sciences. According to the source, Rosenfeld is among the world’s leading researchers in the field of Arctic birds. She was arrested at her home in Moscow in December, several days after returning from a family visit to Israel.

The Reason for the Sentence

Rosenfeld donated 2,000 rubles to the Anti-Corruption Foundation in 2021. That same year, Russian authorities designated the foundation an extremist organization and banned its activities. A friend of the scientist claims that Rosenfeld stopped the transfer of funds after the ban, but was only able to cancel the support after returning from a research expedition in the polar regions.

The Court’s Decision and Next Steps

A Moscow court sentenced Rosenfeld to three and a half years in a penal colony. The case number, the court’s exact name, the charge under the relevant statute, and the reasons for the decision are not specified in the source. The family is working to have the sentence changed in Russia and is asking the Israeli authorities to assist in securing Rosenfeld’s release; as of the time of publication, no response had been received from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additional Cases Involving Donations

According to monitoring conducted by the opposition media outlets Mediazona and The Insider, approximately 220 judgments have been issued in recent years in cases related to donations to the foundation. In about 24 cases, custodial sentences ranging from four months to four years were imposed. The source reports that those convicted also included people who were minors when the funds were transferred.

What this means for you

The case shows that Russian authorities prosecute people for donations to an organization that was subsequently designated an extremist organization, including transfers of relatively small amounts. The article indicates that Israeli citizens who also hold Russian citizenship and visit Russia are exposed to the risk of Russian criminal law being applied to them regardless of their additional citizenship. The source does not report whether the Israeli authorities took any action in this matter.

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