Russian opposition activist Osipova gets eight years in prison

The Smolensk Zadneprovsky District Court has sentenced Other Russia activist Taisiya Osipova to eight years in prison, an Interfax correspondent has reported.

The state prosecutor has sought four years in prison for Osipova.

Osipova was arrested in Smolensk on suspicion of drug dealing on November 25, 2010. The woman's defense lawyers and the movement Other Russia insisted that she was framed to put pressure on her husband Sergei Fomchenkov, a member of the movement's executive committee. They also insisted that the witnesses submit to polygraph tests, saying the drugs were planted on her.

On December 29, the Zadneprovsky District Court sentenced Osipova to ten years in a penal colony. On February 15, 2012, the Smolensk region's court reserved the sentence and ordered a new trial.

On March 5, 2012, Dmitry Medvedev, who was then president of Russia, asked the Prosecutor General's Office to analyze the legality of the conviction of some citizens. There were 32 people on the list, including Osipova.