A Russian court has sentenced the wife of exiled journalist Kirill Martynov to nine years in prison for the attempted murder of her daughter almost two decades ago, Russian media reported Tuesday.
Antonina Martynova, whose maiden name is Fyodorova, had evaded criminal punishment for 16 years after a Russian jury in 2008 found her guilty of attempting to throw her toddler-aged daughter down a stairwell. She was found and detained by police on April 3.
Martynova has maintained that her daughter Alisa climbed through a stair railing and fell before she was able to catch her.
The Novgorod Regional Court in northwestern Russia found Martynova guilty and handed her a nine-year prison sentence, according to the Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novosti. Prosecutors last week requested to sentence Martynova to 10 years in medium-security prison.
Martynova denied the accusations against her and asked the court not to separate her from her 19-year-old daughter. Alisa told the judge that the 2007 incident was an “accident” and asked him to acquit her mother.
Martynova’s husband Kirill Martynov, who is the editor-in-chief of the exiled independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe, has not commented on the case. According to Meduza, Martynov is still legally married to Martynova.
Russian authorities have labeled Martynov a “foreign agent” and Novaya Gazeta Europe an “undesirable” organization.
Russian state media reported last year that police renewed an investigation into Martynov on suspicion of coaxing his wife to “get rid of” Alisa, who is her daughter from a previous marriage.
The only witness in that case, who was 11 years old at the time, died from a drug overdose, according to the state-funded broadcaster NTV.
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.
