Rights defenders declare Evgenia Maiboroda, an activist, a political prisoner

Evgenia Maiboroda, a pensioner from the city of Shakhty, has been sentenced to imprisonment for her pacifist position; her persecution is politically motivated and must be stopped, the human rights project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial" has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 29 it became known that the court in Shakhty had sentenced the 72-year-old Evgenia Maiboroda to 5.5 years in colony, treating her reposts in the social network as fakes about the Russian Army and calls for extremism.

The website of the above project states that the article on fakes about the Russian Army, under which Maiboroda was sentenced to 5.5 years in jail, contradicts the Russian Constitution and basic principles of the law. According to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, "everyone […] has the right to the freedom of expression."

"The wording of the article itself does not allow defining in advance which statements are legal and which are prohibited. A citizen cannot know in advance which of his statements may be treated as fake," human rights defenders have pointed out.

The article on calls for extremism "is often used by authorities to punish dissidents and deprive them of the freedom to express their viewpoints."

Besides, Maiboroda has been repeatedly brought to justice for her pacifist position. Thus, on December 23, 2022, she was fined by 40,000 roubles for discrediting the Russian Army in her posts in social networks.

"The punishment of 5.5 years in jail is disproportionate to the offence – placing posts, pictures and videos in social networks," human rights defenders have emphasized.