Russia sentences Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature to four years’ probation
On Monday, the Meshchansky Court in Moscow sentenced Natalia Sharina, the former Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature.
She was found guilty in a criminal case of extremism and embezzlement and sentenced to a four-year suspended prison sentence, reported Russia’s Interfax news agency.
The prosecutor demanded a 5 year suspended prison sentence for Sharina, who was accused under two articles: 282 of the Russian Criminal Code (incitement of hatred or enmity) and 160 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement).
According to investigators, Sharina distributed Dmytro Korchynsky’s books, which are recognized as extremist, as well as the children's magazine “Barvynok” in Russia; she also spent 297,000 rubles ($5,238 USD) from the library's budget funds for her defense in a previous case in which she was accused of extremism.
Sharina herself did not admit guilt. The Memorial Russian human rights center has recognized her as a political prisoner, and has linked Sharina’s criminal prosecution to an anti-Ukrainian campaign that has continued in Russia since the spring of 2014.