Pskov activists sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on drug charges

A Russian court has sentenced activists Liya Milushkina and Artyom Milushkin to more than decade behind bars each on drug charges, the local news outlet Pskovskaya Gubernia reported on Thursday, August 12. 

Liya Milushkina, the former coordinator of the Open Russia movement’s Pskov branch, was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison, but the serving of the sentence was deferred for a probation period until 2024.

Her husband, liberal activist Artyom Milushkin, was sentenced to 11 years in a maximum security prison. Milushkin broke the bench inside the courtroom cage after the verdict was announced.

The Milushkins were arrested in January 2019 and accused of large-scale drug trafficking (under Russian Criminal Code Article 228.1, section 3). Artyom Milushkin was also accused of arson.

Both Liya Milushkina and Artyom Milushkin pleaded not guilty, claiming that the case was politically motivated. According to Artyom Milushkin, police officers threatened to plant drugs on him in November 2018. 

The prosecution requested 12 years in a maximum security prison for Liya Milushkina and 16 years in a maximum security prison for Artyom Milushkin.