Makhachkala resident Olga Petrova recognized as political prisoner

Human rights defenders recognized Olga Petrova, a resident of Makhachkala, as a political prisoner. The woman was convicted in a case on financing terrorism despite arguments stating that she was not guilty.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in December 2021, a court sentenced 36-year-old Olga Petrova to seven years of imprisonment, finding her guilty of financing terrorism. Olga Petrova has pointed out that the main prosecution witnesses, including Sagid Kazimagomedov, convicted of involvement in aiding and abetting terrorism, and Anna Papushina, retracted their initial testimonies in court. According to relatives’ report, law enforcers began persecuting Olga Petrova and her sister Irina Dudka after the women converted to Islam.

“We believe that the public prosecution failed to prove that the transfers made by Olga Petrova were intended to finance terrorism. The witnesses who testified against her were already in prison and therefore dependent on law enforcers. Moreover, at the trial, they retracted their testimonies and stated that they were not actually acquainted with Olga Petrova, but were forced to incriminate her,” the “Support of Political Prisoners. Memorial” human rights project states on its Telegram channel.

Let us remind you that Irina Dudka, a sister of Olga Petrova, left Russia in 2021 due to threats to her life and freedom from law enforcers. In August 2022, Irina Dudka also became involved as a suspect in a case on financing terrorism.

*On December 29, 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation recognized the organization “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL or IS) as a terrorist international organization and banned its activities in Russia.