19:32, 8 August 2017

Fundraising for pardoned Sochi women announced

Annik Kesyan and Marina Djandjgava, pardoned by Russian President, have no money to buy tickets and go home from Moscow, said their advocate Ivan Pavlov. He asked people to raise money to help the women, who had been sentenced for treason.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today both Ms Djandjgava and Ms Kesyan have left SIZO (pre-trial prison) No. 2 "Lefortovo".

Annik Kesyan and Marina Djandjgava were convicted on treason charges after 2008 they had sent SMS-messages to Georgia about the transportation of military equipment in the direction of Abkhazia. On May 19, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" announced them to be political prisoners.

According to the advocate, SIZO bosses failed to give the women the due money for the tickets.

The "Team 29" Human Rights Association of Lawyers and Journalists has announced fundraising to buy tickets for them; the amount needed makes 52,000 roubles.

Note that on August 4, the "Team 29" reported the preparation of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) about violations of these women's rights.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.