Urgent Action: Human rights defender under house arrest

On 23 January, Anastasia Shevchenko was put under house arrest and may face up to six years in prison if convicted.

On 23 January, Anastasia Shevchenko, an Open Russia human rights defender from Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, was put under house arrest and may face up to six years in prison if convicted. This is the first time the Russian authorities have opened a criminal case under the repressive “undesirable organizations” law. It is a worrying precedent and could open the floodgates to the prosecution of hundreds of Open Russia members across the country. Anastasia Shevchenko is a prisoner of conscience. She must be immediately and unconditionally released.

Take action.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 7 MARCH 2019

Please write urgently in your own words or using the template letter included in English or Russian to:

Head of the Investigation Department for Rostov Oblast

Aslan Garunovich Huade

13/2, Beregovaya Street

Rostov-on-Don, 344082

Russian Federation 

Fax: +7 (863) 227 0193

Online contact form: www.rostov.sledcom.ru/references

Instagram and Facebook: suskrnd

Salutation: Dear Head of the Investigation Department

And copies to:

Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation

Yuriy Yakovlevich Chaika 

Prosecutor General’s Office 

125993 Moscow GSP-3 

ul. B. Dmitrovka 15a 

Russian Federation 

Fax: +7 495 987 58 41 / +7 495 692 17 25 

Salutation: Dear Prosecutor General 

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

HIS EXCELLENCY MR ALEXANDER VLADIMIROVICH YAKOVENKO Embassy of Russia 6-7 Kensington Palace Gardens London W8 4QP 020 7229 6412

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.