Court in Volgograd passes verdict of guilty to human rights activists

Members of the Volgograd-based UNESCO Club named "Child's Dignity" Irina Molovichko, Ulyana Ilyakhina and Tatiana Zagumennova, accused of plundering grant money in the sum of 18,000 roubles in 2006-2008, received conditional custody terms. The convicts refused to plead guilty, asserting that the court has passed an unfair sentence.

"We refused to plead guilty, and it was noted in the verdict," said Irina Malovichko. "However, there's little hope that this vicious circle of the inquiry and the court may be overcome or somehow affected. We are exhausted by the trial; and the hope that the decision of the court may be reconsidered by a higher instance is melting."

On March 12, the securities did not let the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent into the court building. Also, the correspondent was driven out of the building on March 5, when the case was heard; and the judge forbade video filming. No comments could be received from the accusation after passing the verdict.

According to the organization, during its whole working period (in 2001-2008), the UNESCO Club "Child's Dignity" implemented 30 projects and attracted 5.5 million roubles from various domestic and foreign sources into the social sphere of the Volgograd Region.