Israeli-Russian Dual Citizen Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Russian Prison for Small Donation
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Sofia Rosenfeld, a dual Israeli-Russian citizen and senior scientist, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison in Russia for a small donation of approximately 80 shekels to an opposition group before it was declared illegal. She was arrested in late 2025, years after the donation, and sentenced on October 7. Her father expressed concern about the sentence and communication difficulties, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry is providing consular assistance. This case is part of a wider crackdown on political dissent in Russia.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Sofia Rosenfeld, an Israeli-Russian dual citizen, received a 3.5-year prison sentence in Russia for a donation to an opposition group.
- The donation, made in 2021, was approximately 80 shekels and given before the organization was declared illegal.
- Rosenfeld was arrested in late 2025, years after the donation, and sentenced on October 7.
- Her father described the situation as "Kafkaesque" and expressed concerns about communication.
- The Israeli Foreign Ministry is providing consular services to Rosenfeld and her family.
- The case is part of a broader trend of political prosecution in Russia targeting donors to Alexei Navalny's foundation.
A dual citizen of Israel and Russia, Sofia Rosenfeld, a 50-year-old senior scientist living in Moscow, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for funding an opposition organization. The donation, made in 2021, was a recurring payment of approximately 80 shekels (about $12-14) to the Anti-Corruption Foundation of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. At the time of the donation, the organization was operating legally, but it was later declared extremist and outlawed by the Russian government while Rosenfeld was away on a research trip. She canceled the recurring payment upon her return to Moscow in September 2021, but two payments had already been processed.
Rosenfeld, who immigrated to Israel with her family in 1990 and maintained her Israeli citizenship, visiting annually, was arrested in late November 2025, two days after returning from a family visit to Israel. She was initially allowed to remain free under a travel ban from Moscow and believed the case would result in a minor penalty, such as a fine or community service.
However, on October 7, the Gagarin District Court sentenced her to actual imprisonment, and she was taken directly from the courtroom to prison. Her father, Boris Rosenfeld, expressed deep concern and described the situation as "Kafkaesque," noting the distressing timing of the sentence on October 7. He also highlighted the difficulty in communicating with his daughter, with correspondence limited to letters subject to Russian prison censorship.
The family has not definitively attributed the sentence to antisemitism but acknowledges the possibility of political motivations or Russia seeking leverage. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it is in contact with the family and working with Russian authorities to provide consular services. This case is part of a broader trend in Russia, where approximately 220 people have been prosecuted for donations to Navalny's foundation, resulting in about 24 prison sentences. Rosenfeld's case is the third instance of a woman receiving a prison sentence for such a donation and the second case involving an Israeli citizen convicted in a political case in Russia.
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