Donations, Telegram Stars and money

The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.

Draft What human rights defenders advise

Donations, Telegram Stars and money

Telegram Stars and paid reactions are not anonymous: the channel owner sees the sender and the history stays in your account. People are already being charged with treason and financing terrorism over them.
There is no minimum amount: a case is possible over a single Star. In September 2026 a Tyumen man got 8 years for Stars sent to the channels of Michael Nacke, Alexander Nevzorov and Alexander Shpak.
Before donating, human rights groups advise checking the recipient's status (see 'Am I on a list?'). Donating to an 'extremist', 'undesirable' or 'terrorist' organisation can lead to a criminal case.
In Telegram settings you can hide yourself from the 'top senders' list. If you donated after an organisation was banned, talk to a lawyer about what to do with the account.
Banks restrict people on the Rosfinmonitoring list: since 1 June 2025 they may spend their income within the minimum wage per month for themselves and each dependent family member (27,093 roubles in 2026). The old limit of 10,000 roubles no longer applies.

current as of 26 September 2026. More: OVD-Info: Telegram Stars (extremist); Mediazona: 8 years for Stars (foreign agent); Wikipedia: the Rosfinmonitoring list

Whom to contact

2 organisations

First Department

Lawyers for treason, espionage, state secrets and extremism cases, including closed trials. Advice on digital security.

The only official bot is @deptonebot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.

Other ways to reach them: website · info@dept.one

abroad foreign agent contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026

Message the bot @deptonebot

OVD-Info

Advice for people who are detained or face administrative or criminal cases over protests and anti-war statements. They can tell you how to behave during questioning.

Since June 2026 it no longer works with lawyers in Russia; it gives advice and refers people onward. For criminal cases and pressure on families, also contact First Department and Prison Lawyer. The 8 800 hotline is switched off; only the bot works. Since 4 June 2026 it is on the Rosfinmonitoring list as 'extremist': do not repost its materials.

The only official bot is @ovdinfobot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.

abroad foreign agentextremiston Rosfinmonitoring list contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026

Get in touch

This organisation is designated 'extremist' in Russia. It says that a consultation is not participation in its work, but messages on a phone that may be seized and reposts of its materials are dangerous. Write from a device you would not hand over if detained.

I understand the risk, continue

Other ways to reach them: legal@ovdinfo.org

@ovdinfobot

What next

Need a lawyer

In Russia, First Department and Solidarity Zone find lawyers. Lawyers abroad known for defending political cases: list of lawyers →