Director of the Moscow Library of Ukrainian Literature Natalya Sharina is facing charges over two alleged cases of embezzlement, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday, citing her lawyer Ivan Pavlov.
If convicted, Sharina faces up to 10 years in prison.
"The investigation's position is obvious: when the main charge is falling apart, something else needs to be added promptly," Pavlov said, referring to last year's crackdown on the library, after which Sharina was detained and accused of inciting ethnic hatred and humiliating human dignity.
Sharina will plead innocent to the charges, according to Interfax.
Sharina's house arrest was prolonged by Moscow's Tagansky District Court in January and will expire on April 28, Interfax reported.
President Vladimir Putin promised to look into the case personally during his speech at the Presidential Council for Culture and Art held in December last year.
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.