Judge who convicted Russian anti-war protester Sasha Skochilenko recommended for promotion

Oksana Demyasheva, the judge who convicted anti-war protester and artist Sasha Skochilenko, was recommended for appointment as Deputy Chairwoman for St. Petersburg’s Kalininsky District Court.

As noted by Russian politician Lev Shlosberg, St. Petersburg’s Judicial Qualification Board made the recommendation on November 17 — the day after Judge Demyasheva sentenced Sasha Skochilenko to seven years in prison for spreading “disinformation” about the Russian military’s actions in Ukraine after she replaced supermarket price tags with anti-war stickers in April 2022.

Skochilenko’s supporters had previously addressed the Judicial Qualification Board, requesting Judge Demyasheva’s behavior be examined for complying with judicial ethics norms. During the hearings, Judge Demyasheva did not announce breaks for Skochilenko to take medication and eat, and threatened lawyers.