23:30, 7 September 2010

Arrested director of Russian building company goes on hunger strike in South Ossetia

Svetlana Osipova, director general of the construction Limited Liability Company (LLC) "Astereya", who is kept in Tskhinvali prison, on September 2, went on hunger strike in protest against the charges presented by South-Ossetian authorities.

As reported by the Ossetian journalist Alan Tskhurbaev, author of the blog "Ossetia and around: view from inside", with reference to Svetlana's son, from September 2 she refuses to eat, and just drinks water.

The State Office of Public Prosecutor of South Ossetia earlier stated that the LLC "Astereya" had overestimated the cost of the houses built in Tskhinvali. The Office believes that Osipova had "by deceit and distortion of facts" overestimated the prices by more than 838,000 roubles.

On June 4, Ms Osipova was charged of committing a crime stipulated by part 3, Article 159, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (high-scale plunder of one's property). On that very day Osipova was taken to custody. Now the General Prosecutor's Office holds an investigation in her relation.