Mark Kislitsyn

A transgender man, anti-war and LGBTQ+ activist, and volunteer with the T Center.

Mark was convicted of state treason under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code for transferring 865 rubles at the start of the invasion to a fellow member of the trans community through the National Bank of Ukraine. He was sentenced to 12 years in a women’s general-regime colony, along with a fine of 200,000 rubles and one year of restricted freedom after release. In the colony, the political prisoner has been denied hormone therapy, barred from participating in group activities, and pressured by the administration, which withholds his letters and regularly places him in solitary confinement for several weeks at a time.

2020s

Activists State treason

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The final statement

‘This is my country, this is my home, I am responsible for it. My conscience is clear, I am not ashamed or afraid‘.

Throughout my life I managed to be a volunteer in different places. Somewhere I volunteered regularly, somewhere occasionally, somewhere I was officially registered, somewhere not. Somewhere I approached the matter very seriously, somewhere I was far from that…

I have always had a goal to live a normal, calm, small and peaceful life. Since the beginning of the war, I have had two desires. The first one is to have a peaceful sky above our heads. I am not alone who has the same desire. I am supported by millions of citizens of our country.

The second desire is to, no matter what, stay in Russia till the end and help those who I can help. This is my country, this is my home, I am responsible for it. My conscience is clear, I am not ashamed or afraid. If I am found guilty by the court, one of my desires, I mean staying in Russia, no matter what happens later, will come true. Well, so be it.

Besides, as one good song goes: ‘Someone has to be on this side of the border’.

Thanks, I am ready.

Moscow City Court, Moscow, Russia

22 December 2023

Source: Telegram channel ‘Free Mark Kislytsyn!’

More about the case: Memorial

Photo: Mark Kislitsyn support group.