Anastassia Rybachenko, a Russian opposition activist studying in Estonia, hopes the local authorities will have recourse to Interpol regarding her case, as they did with Eerik-Niiles Kross.
Fugitive activist «hopes in help by Estonian authorities»
31st October 2013, 14:12
Please note that the article is more than five years old and belongs to our archive. We do not update the content of the archives, so it may be necessary to consult newer sources.
Ms Rybachenko, a student at Tallinn University of Technology, has been declared a fugitive in Russia regarding the so-called Bolotnaya Square criminal case, whereby lots of participants in opposition mass rally on the said square are accused in organising riots and violence against police.
In Ms Rybachenko’s estimation, this is pure political persecution. In June, a resolution was passed by European Parliament, among other things stating that the parliament «expresses its concern at the allegedly political nature of court procedures related to violence on Bolotnaya Square » and demands independent investigations of the case. The human rights council at Russian presidential office has supported amnesty to those accused in the Bolotnaya case.
While earlier Russian authorities only searched for Ms Rybachenko domestically, in June they had recourse to Interpol. So far, international search has only been hindered by technicalities. «Two weeks ago, a Moscow court changed my status, and now I am arrested by default,» noted Ms Rybachenko. Arrest by default was a prerequisite for Interpol to proceed with the application by Russia.
According to Ms Rybachenko, statutes of Interpol exclude use of the organisation for political searches. «Should I be included in their database, we will naturally contest that,» said she.
In light of earlier developments, it is not a given that Russia’s request would be rejected by Interpol. In addition to the Kross case, the Russian writer Pyotr Silayev was again listed as fugitive lately, accused in organising and activist protest attack on a Khimki administrative building, in 2010.
As pointed out by Ms Rybachenko, the Georgian politician Givi Targamadze – also wanted in Russia as related to the Bolotnaya Square demonstrations, was deleted from Interpol database following measures taken by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. «Regrettably, I do not have a President like him,» said Ms Rybachenko. «But, should there be people in Estonia ready to support me, I would be very grateful.»
As confirmed to Postimees, yesterday, by public prosecutor Eve Olesk, Public Prosecutor’s Office has not received any documents from Russia regarding extradition of Anastassia Rybachenko.
Should such a request come, it will be forwarded to Harju County Court which will decide whether extradition would be legal. The decision could be appealed at circuit court.
Should the decision not be contested at circuit court or should the latter leave an earlier decision unchanged, extradition of the suspect shall be decided by Minister of Justice.
Ms Rybachenko said she was convinced that should an Estonian court discuss her extradition, she would be granted justice – the court being independent.