Press Release, 02.11.2015

Sergei Mitrokhin demands an official investigation on the detention of Natalia Sharina, Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, on the justification of conducting investigation against her at night time, pressure on her and abandoning her without medical care. YABLOKO leader urges that those guilty of such abuse of power should be brought to responsibility.

Natalya Sharina, 58, was detained by police on suspicion of inciting ethnic hatred between Russians and Ukrainians. She was arrested after the investigators found books in the library that allegedly disseminated “anti-Russian propaganda”. The Library of Ukrainian Literature stocks titles in Russian and Ukrainian, and receives funding from the Moscow city budget

Mitrokhin has sent corresponding letters to Alexander Drymanov, acting head of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in Moscow, and Alexander Bukach, chief of interior of the Central Administrative District of Moscow.

Sergei Mitrokhin draws attention to the fact that the investigation was conducted at night without any legal grounds to it, rude actions of law enforcement officers threatened the health of Natalia Sharina. The rights of Sharina were grossly violated.

According to Sharina, during the interrogation, investigator Bugrov pressed on her demanding to confess.

After the end of the interrogation, he told her about the arrest as a suspect for 48 hours. Mitrokhin states in his letter that Natalia Sharina poses no danger to society, so the night interrogations and detentions did not make sense.

“I believe that investigative actions at night in these circumstances were unacceptable, and there were no grounds for further detention of Natalia Sharina”, Sergei Mitrokhin said.

After night interrogation and the following arrest, doctors from the ambulance diagnosed Natalia Sharina hypertensive crisis and insisted on placement her in hospital. But law enforcement officials did not do anything for it.

“I am convinced that the actions of Natalia Sharina do not constitute any crime, and all the actions of law enforcement officers represent a flagrant violation of human rights. But even if we take the point of view of the investigator, then tough actions of police investigation at night, putting pressure, leaving a 58 year-old woman with out medical care are just the same outside the scope of morality and law, it is unacceptable and requires investigation, ” Sergey Mitrokhin said.

He demands to hold check on the justification of the investigation at night, the pressure on Sharina and leaving her without medical assistance. In addition, he urges to bring those in charge for this to responsibility.

YABLOKO Bureau adopted a statement running that “the persecution of the director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature is a political provocation and leads to an increase of hatred between the brotherly peoples of Russia and Ukraine.”