Israeli Scientist Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Russian Prison for Donations

A Moscow court has sentenced Sofya Rosenfeld, a 50-year-old Israeli citizen and doctor of biological sciences, to 3.5 years in a penal colony. The sentence, handed down on October 7, the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, was for two donations totaling 2,000 rubles (approximately $72) made to the Fund to Combat Corruption (FBK) in August and September 2021. Rosenfeld, a senior researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Ecology and Evolution, was taken into custody in the courtroom despite having undergone two surgeries this year. Her family in Israel is seeking to secure her release and has appealed to Israeli authorities for assistance.

Rosenfeld, who dedicated her life to studying Arctic geese and environmental protection, was found guilty of financing an "extremist" organization. The prosecution had sought a five-year sentence. The FBK was declared an extremist organization and banned in Russia in 2021, leading to the prosecution of its employees and donors. According to Mediazona, at least 225 criminal cases have been initiated across Russia for donations to the FBK as of April 2026. The European Court of Human Rights previously ruled the prosecution of the FBK by Russian authorities to be illegal and politically motivated.

In court, Rosenfeld stated she did not share extremist views and that her intent was solely to combat corruption. She explained that her work in environmental protection had shown her the "monstrous forms" corruption could take, and she believed any help in fighting it was beneficial. Her lawyer had submitted a letter from her to the fund requesting the cancellation of monthly donations after the FBK's extremist status was declared.

Rosenfeld, who repatriated to Israel in 1990 but returned to Russia two years later for her research, maintained ties with Israel, visiting annually and collaborating with local ornithologists. Her father, Boris Rosenfeld, expressed shock at the sentence, having expected a fine, and noted that her lawyer believed the case was insignificant and lacked any extremism. Her health is a concern, as she underwent two surgeries this year. She had been under a travel ban since her indictment in December 2025, leading her family to anticipate a suspended sentence.

Her friend, Alexandra Panyutina, a fellow biologist, described Rosenfeld as a "free and field person" who spent months in harsh conditions for her research. Panyutina expressed concern about Rosenfeld's ability to endure imprisonment, stating, "I cannot imagine her in conditions of restricted freedom. It is something monstrous." Rosenfeld remained in Russia despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and her criminal case, believing that leaving would prevent her from returning and continuing her work protecting endangered species and nature reserves.

Rosenfeld's family approached the Israeli embassy in Moscow for help, but were informed that Israeli authorities could not intervene due to her Russian citizenship. The Israeli Foreign Ministry had previously warned citizens with dual citizenship about the risks of staying in Russia. While her father continues to appeal to various authorities, a precedent for securing an Israeli citizen's release from Russian prison exists: Naama Issachar was returned to Israel in 2020 after being sentenced to 7.5 years for drug possession. Lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant noted that releasing Rosenfeld would require significant negotiation and a willingness from both sides. There is speculation that Russia might consider exchanging Rosenfeld for Artem Kirpichenko, a Russian-Israeli historian detained in Israel and accused of security offenses.