Latvian court jails woman for six years over €43 transfer for Russian army equipment
In short
Riga City Court sentenced Polina Kamleva, a resident of Rezekne, to six years in prison for financing an armed conflict, Meduza reported, citing Delfi. Investigators say she arranged a transfer of about 43 euros toward an electronic warfare device for the Russian military. After the verdict she was added to the Ukrainian "Mirotvorets" database, RIA Novosti and TASS reported.
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Riga City Court has sentenced Polina Kamleva, a resident of the Latvian town of Rezekne, to six years in prison on a charge of financing an armed conflict, Meduza reported, citing Delfi, which describes Kamleva as a pro-Russian activist. She was accused of transferring 43 euros to buy a device for suppressing drones that was then to be handed to the Russian military. RBC reported that the decision can still be appealed. [ 4 , 5 ]
According to the investigation's account as cited by Delfi, in December 2024 Kamleva, in a WhatsApp conversation with an acquaintance from the Russian military-patriotic centre "Kaskad", agreed to help raise money for military equipment for the Russian army, namely a mobile electronic warfare system. Investigators say she then asked another acquaintance living in Belarus to make the transfer for her, because money cannot be sent from a Latvian bank to a Russian bank. That acquaintance transferred 157 Belarusian rubles, about 43 euros, from his personal account. [ 4 ]
In her final statement Kamleva said she had not intended to finance the Russian army and that the correspondence found on her phone did not clearly show the money was meant for Russian soldiers. She said she was out of work at the time and in a difficult psychological state, and could not refuse the person who asked her. "I acted wrongly. I ask you to distinguish a wrong act from criminal intent. I had none," she said, according to Meduza. [ 4 ]
Prosecutors had sought eight years. Latvia's criminal code provides up to ten years in prison for financing an armed conflict. Latvia's State Security Service detained Kamleva in December 2025; Delfi reported at the time that she was a member of the Russian Union of Latvia party. [ 4 ]
On the day of the verdict, Kamleva was added to the "Mirotvorets" database, RIA Novosti and TASS reported. According to TASS, the site's founders accuse her of financing the Russian armed forces, supporting Russia and spreading "anti-Ukrainian" propaganda. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case shows Latvia prosecuting even very small transfers as financing of an armed conflict, a charge that carries up to ten years in prison under Latvian law, according to Meduza. RBC reported that the ruling can still be appealed.
Key facts
- Riga City Court sentenced Rezekne resident Polina Kamleva to six years in prison for financing an armed conflict. [ 4 ]
- The case concerned a transfer of about 43 euros, which investigators say was meant for an electronic warfare device for the Russian army. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Prosecutors had asked for eight years; Latvian law sets a maximum of ten years for financing an armed conflict. [ 4 ]
- Latvia's State Security Service detained Kamleva in December 2025. [ 4 ]
- An acquaintance in Belarus transferred 157 Belarusian rubles (about 43 euros) from his personal account, according to the investigation. [ 4 ]
- Kamleva told the court she did not intend to finance the Russian army. [ 4 ]
- After the verdict, Kamleva was added to the "Mirotvorets" database. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The court decision can still be appealed. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A woman in Latvia was convicted over a transfer of 43 euros to Russia. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- She was sentenced to six years in prison. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Investigators say the money was for an electronic warfare device for the Russian army. [ 4 , 5 ]
- After the conviction she was added to the "Mirotvorets" database. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kamleva will appeal the verdict. RBC says the decision can still be appealed, but no outlet reports whether an appeal has been filed.
- Whether Kamleva knew the money was meant for the Russian military. Investigators say she agreed to help the Russian army; she told the court the correspondence did not clearly show this and that she had no criminal intent.
- Her party membership and description as a pro-Russian activist. These come only from Delfi as cited by Meduza.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports a woman in Latvia was convicted for transferring 43 euros to Russia. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the convicted woman was added to the "Mirotvorets" database. [ 2 ]
- TASS names her as Kamleva and reports the Mirotvorets founders' accusations. [ 3 ]
- Meduza reports the six-year sentence by Riga City Court, citing Delfi. [ 4 ]
- RBC reports the six-year sentence and that it can be appealed. [ 5 ]