The high-profile case against a Russian woman accused of treason has been dropped, her lawyer said Friday.
"The case against Svetlana Davydova has been closed due to the lack of a crime. The accusations of state treason have been fully withdrawn," Ivan Pavlov wrote on his Facebook page.
Davydova was arrested in January on suspicion of treason for calling the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow last April to inform them that Russian troops stationed near her home in the Smolensk region town of Vyazma were leaving their barracks and could be on their way to fight in Ukraine.
The mother of seven spent 10 days in detention before being let out on conditional release amid a public outcry.
An expert analysis conducted as part of the investigation found that the information divulged to the Ukrainian embassy by Davydova did not qualify as a state secret and its disclosure did not threaten Russian national security, Kommersant newspaper reported.
Russia denies reports that any of its servicemen have been sent to fight in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.