Maria Ponomarenko

Affiliated media: RusNews, Journalist

Incident date: July 24, 2025

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: OVD Info

Location: Russia, Altai krai, Altai krai

Additional information:

Journalist Maria Ponomarenko, who is serving a six-year sentence for allegedly spreading “fake news” about the Russian army, has been placed in a punishment cell for 15 days, until July 30. She is currently held in Penal Colony No. 9 in the Altai region. Reports suggest that the immediate reason for her punishment was her refusal to put her hands behind her back while being escorted from her cell. Throughout her imprisonment, Ponomarenko has been repeatedly sent to the punishment cell. Earlier, in March, she wrote from the pre-trial detention centre that she had slit her veins in response to constant mistreatment by colony staff.