14:18, 16 November 2017

Russian SC mitigates verdict to author of SMS to Georgia

Supreme Court of Russia. Photo: Anton Naumliyk (RFE/RL)

The term of punishment for Inga Tutisani, a resident of Sochi, sentenced for high treason because of an SMS-message she sent in August 2008 to Georgia, in which she described the movement of Russian troops, was reduced down to 4 years and 1 month.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in early July, advocate Ivan Pavlov, the leader of the "Team 29", reported about a cassation complaint filed to the Supreme Court (SC) of Russia in the Inga Tutisani's case.

On May 19, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized as political prisoners Sochi residents Inga Tutisani, Marina Djandjgava, and Annik (Aniko) Kesyan, sentenced on the charges of high treason. The sentences pronounced against the women should be abolished, claimed the rights defenders. According to them, the information about the movement of military vehicles, described by the women in their SMS-messages, cannot be attributed to state secrets.

The Krasnodar Territorial Court sentenced Inga Tutisani to six years of imprisonment, and the Supreme Court mitigated the sentence down to 4 years and 1 month. However, the sentenced woman has already served the term, reported advocate Ivan Pavlov. "She will be released in ten days," said the advocate as quoted by the RIA "Novosti".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.