 Natalya Sharina has been designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, which has called for her immediate and unconditional release. She denies all charges and has said she believes they are politically motivated. On 21 October 2016 a court extended the house arrest of Natalya Sharina court until 28 April 2017. Amnesty International also notes that there are serious concerns about Natalya Sharina’s health and access to adequate medical treatment. On 4 November 2016, Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action on the case of Natalya Sharina. Photo of Natalya Sharina: Amnesty International (USA) Amnesty International report: Nataya Sharina’s trial has begun after the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office submitted her case to the Moscow
Meschanskiy Court on 7 October. At the first hearing on 2 November, Natalya Sharina declared that she
understood, and pleaded not guilty, to the charge of “embezzlement on an especially large scale”. For the charges
of “inciting enmity or hatred with abuse of office” she said that it was unclear which of her actions violated the law.
Her lawyer further challenged the indictment by pointing out that there is no evidence in the case file that Sharina
had “extremist intentions and anti-Russian sentiments”. He went on to state that the embezzlement charges were
unfounded as all the contracts in question had been approved by the higher level officials. Natalya Sharina’s
daughter told Amnesty International that many of her mother’s former colleagues, and Library users, came to
support her at the trial. The next hearing is planned for 23 November. Amnesty International urges members of the public to write immediately in Russian or your own language: Calling on the authorities to terminate unfounded criminal proceedings against Natalya Sharina; Calling on the Russian authorities to lift house arrest of Natalya Sharina immediately and unconditionally as she
is a prisoner of conscience; Urging that Natalya Sharina should have an immediate access to the medical treatment she requires. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 16 DECEMBER 2016 TO: Prosecutor General of the Russian
Federation
Yurii Yakovlevich Chaika Prosecutor General’s Office
ul. B. Dmitrovka, d.15a
125993 Moscow GSP- 3
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 495 987 5841 / +7 495 692 1725 Salutation: Dear Prosecutor General
Moscow City Prosecutor
Vladimir Victorovich Churikov Moscow City Prosecutor’s Office
Pl. Krestianskaia Zastava, dom 1
109147 Moscow
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 495 951 50 40 Salutation: Dear Prosecutor And copies to:
Human Rights Ombudsman of the
Russian Federation Tatiana Nikolaevna Moskalkova
ul. Miasnitskaia, 47
107084, Moscow
Russian Federation
Fax: +7 495 607 7470 / +7 495 607 3977
(to check if fax received: +7 495 607
1854) Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Sources 'Ukrainian Library Director Goes On Trial In Moscow,' RFE/RL, 2 November 2016 'RUSSIAN FEDERATION: FURTHER INFORMATION: LIBRARIAN'S TRIAL STARTED IN MOSCOW: NATALYA SHARINA,' Amnesty International, 4 November 2016 |
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