February 20, 2021 09:53:36 am
A Russian court convicted political activist Anastasia Shevchenko Thursday, finding that she had violated the country’s “undesirable organizations” law through her involvement with a pro-democracy group.
Shevchenko was given a four-year suspended sentence. Prosecutors sought five years in prison.
Officials first brought the case in January of 2019, when the government contended Shevchenko violated Article 284.1 of the Russia Criminal Code, which is also recognized as the “undesirable organizations” law. The statute enables the Prosecutor General’s Office to ban international organizations deemed “undesirable” to Russia’s security and national interests. Further, Russian citizens who participate in the activities of such groups may be found criminally liable.