The Mirny City Court in the Arkhangelsk region sentenced local resident Lyudmila Korotkova to four and a half years in a penal colony in a criminal case tied to extremism. The human rights group Memorial drew attention to the court’s announcement.
According to the court, 55-year-old Korotkova was charged with participation in the activities of an extremist organization, involving others in the activities of an extremist organization, and repeated “discrediting” of the army.
The court’s press release says the convicted woman supported a party “whose founder in 2012 predicted an invasion of reptilians from the planet Nibiru.” Memorial clarified that investigators linked her to the structures of conspiracy theorist Svetlana Lada-Rus (Peunova).
Human rights defenders say one of the main grounds for the criminal case was testimony from a secret witness. According to Memorial, Korotkova herself identified that witness as a former colleague.
The “discrediting” charge stemmed from the distribution of a newspaper that asked:
“When will the goals of the special military operation be achieved if combat has already spread to our territories and drones are striking targets deep inside the country?”
In addition, Memorial says the newspaper distributed by Korotkova contained claims that the war in Ukraine had allegedly been organized by “the Jewish Chabad sect” in order to free up territory.
Memorial also said that Korotkova is raising a minor daughter on her own and caring for her elderly mother.