Human rights defenders recognize Adygea resident Tatiana Moskalenko as political prisoner

The criminal article under which Tatiana Moskalenko, a resident of Adygea, is accused allows any defendant’s statements regarding the authorities’ actions to be interpreted as calls for action against the state. That was stated by the “Support for Political Prisoners.Memorial” human rights project.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on August 18, 2023, the Maikop City Court arrested Tatiana Moskalenko, accused of calling on the Internet for activities against the security of the state (providing for up to six years of imprisonment). Tatiana Moskalenko is an activist of the “Citizens of the USSR” movement*.

The article under which Tatiana Moskalenko is being prosecuted was introduced into the legislation of the Russian Federation on July 14, 2022. Authors of the draft law associated their initiative with “protecting the interests of Russia,” but in fact, the article provides for the prosecution of citizens for any attempts to oppose the decisions of the country’s authorities, the “Support for Political Prisoners.Memorial” human rights project reported.

So, the law expanded and made even less specific the concepts of “state treason” and “espionage.” Almost any statements about the activities of the state in the military sphere, the security sphere, and the operation of any public institutions may be interpreted as “calls.”

In accordance with international standards, pacifist calls may not in any case be regarded as a criminal act, human rights defenders state.

*In 2019, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Komi Republic recognized the “Union of Rus’ Slavic Forces” (one of the group of movements that also includes “Citizens of the USSR”) as an extremist organization.