Memorial recognized Shevchenko as a political prisoner

The Human Rights Center "Memorial" recognized the activist of "Open Russia" Anastasia Shevchenko as a political prisoner, accused of participating in an "undesirable organization".

“We consider Anastasia Shevchenko a political prisoner, since the very institution of “unwanted organizations” and the norms of legislation that provide for punishment for carrying out their activities on the territory of the Russian Federation imply arbitrary and unreasoned application, contradict the principle of legal certainty and other fundamental principles of law, ”says in a statement from Memorial.

Shevchenko is deprived of liberty solely because of her political convictions and in connection with the non-violent exercise of freedom of thought, freedom of expression and information, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, other rights and freedoms, human rights activists say.

On January 21, the country's first criminal case was opened against Shevchenko on the activities of an organization recognized as undesirable in Russia. The court placed her under house arrest.