Karina Tsurkan is charged with spying for Moldova, but her guilt has not been proved and the investigation has been conducted with gross violations of the law
Memorial Human Rights Centre, in accordance with international guidelines defining the term ‘political prisoner,’ considers Karina Tsurkan a political prisoner. She has been deprived of her liberty in violation of her right to a fair trial guaranteed by the Russian Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In her case it seems no offence has been committed and the evidence has been falsified. We demand the immediate release of Tsurkan.
Who is Karina Tsurkan and what is she accused of?
Karina Tsurkan, a former board member of the energy company Inter RAO, is charged with espionage (Article 276 of the Criminal Code, punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment). According to the investigators, in 2015 Tsurkan allegedly passed secret information to the Information and Security Service of Moldova about the supply of electricity to the territory of Ukraine, including that part of the Donbass not controlled by the central government.
On 14 June 2018 Tsurkan was remanded in custody. On 16 January 2020 the First Court of Appeal released her, imposing other pre-trial restrictions. However, already on 7 February the Second Court of Cassation overturned this decision and remanded her in custody again. We believe this rush to cancel the relaxation in pre-trial restrictions is one of the most striking manifestations of the court’s bias against Tsurkan.
On 21 September hearings in the case of Tsurkan began at Moscow City Court, and on 29 September consideration on the merits began.
Tsurkan has denied the charges against her. She has a young son (a minor) and an elderly mother.
Why does Memorial consider Tsurkan a political prisoner?
Despite the closed nature of the investigation against Tsurkan, an analysis of the chronology and circumstances of the prosecution leads us to conclude that it is politically motivated:
Legal counsel is provided to Karina Tsurkan by the human rights organisation Team 29.
More information about this case and the opinion of Memorial Human Rights Centre is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner or as a victim of politically motivated prosecution does not imply Memorial Human Rights Centre agrees with, or approves of, their views, statements, or actions.
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