UPDATE: I am writing to share the tragic news that Sergey's wife, Irina Rednikova, has passed away today on Nov 15, 2022 after bravely fighting the late stage metastatic cancer that she was diagnosed with late this summer.
We will be updating the GoFundMe page to support the family, but meanwhile would appreciate if you could already help through this page towards funeral and related expenses.
Thank you.
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Dear Friends,
As you know, Russia’s brutal invasion and war in Ukraine is affecting millions of Ukrainian families and also hundreds of thousands families from Russia. Unfortunately, there are very limited support opportunities for political refugees from Russia. I personally know a young family of political activists from Kaluga, who are now in the USA and are applying for political asylum, and they need financial help. Sergey Rednikov, his wife Irina and 2 small children Emma and Anya (3 and 5 years old) have no means of support at the moment.
I opened this GoFundMe page to raise a total of $12,000.00 for Sergey, Irina, Emma and Anya as I hope to help them raise the necessary funds for a lawyer (which may end up being up to $9,000.00 including court expenses) and also some money that they can use for rent and food for a few months, while they cannot legally work. All proceeds from this GoFundMe page will go directly to Sergey, Irina, Emma and Anya.
About Sergey, Irina, and their family: Sergey was an active volunteer in Navalny’s organization (FBK) in Kaluga. Sergey and Irina have peacefully protested Putin’s regime (organizing freedom marches, rallies, initiatives in support of political prisoners in Russia), yet on numerous occasions they were unofficially detained by police and the ministry of internal affairs (MVD), threatened with criminal charges, prison and losing custody of their children, as well as beaten and tortured while in custody. For instance, on 09/15/21 in Moscow, peacefully protesting illegal elections, Sergey and 3 other activists opened a banner with the words “Freedom for Navalny! Putin to prison!” and within seconds were arrested by FSB https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-red-square-protest-kaluga-banner/31478123.html Sergey spent the next 10 days in prison in inhumane conditions. Being persecuted solely for their political views and non-violent activity (picketing, attempting to run for political office, being a volunteer observing elections), Sergey and Irina were able to escape Putin’s regime and arrive in the USA (via Turkey using their tourist USA visa) with their children. Sergey continues to play an active part in the “Civil Society of the Kaluga Region”. The FSB has already fabricated a case against Sergey, and if he were to return to Russia, he faces at least 10 years in prison.
Currently, Sergey and his family are living in the house of a volunteer (for free) and are being helped by a church with food donations. Sergey and Irina have filed an asylum application, but to properly complete the process and have legal representation at the asylum hearing or in court, Sergey and Irina now need to pay for the services of an immigration lawyer who specializes in political refugees.
Once Sergey and his wife have a legal status (i.e. obtain political asylum), they will be able to work and support their family, but at the moment they need our help. I know that you are already helping a lot both by donating money to different organizations and individual people as well as by donating your time and energy to volunteer for a number of important initiatives. I would like to ask you to consider helping this family I know! Any amount will make a big difference for them.
Thank you for your help!
Also, if you could please help by sharing this page with your friends, I would greatly appreciate it as it will help a lot to raise the needed amount.
Thank you,
Anna