You're reading: Court sentences Russian woman accused of serving for self-proclaimed Donetsk republic to 11 years in prison

KHARKIV – The Kyiv’s District Court in Kharkiv has sentenced Larisa Chubarova, a Russian citizen, who served for security services of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people’s republic (DPR), to 11 years in prison.

“The Kyiv’s District Court of Kharkiv has found her guilty of membership of illegal armed groups, illegal handling of weapons, and encroachment on the state’s territorial integrity and inviolability and sentenced her to 11 years of imprisonment with confiscation of her property,” the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The investigation has determined that Chubarova was an activist of the Anti-Maidan campaign in Kharkiv and took part in protest demonstrations. “The prosecutors proved in court that the woman decided in June 2014 to take part in activities of the so-called DPR and left for the Donetsk region,” the prosecutor’s office said.

Upon arriving in the DPR, Chubarova served under command of the chief of the DPR Security Ministry’s counterintelligence directorate and acted as the commandant of several populated communities, the prosecutors said.

The prosecution insisted that Chubarova took part in interrogations of captives and collected and analyzed information on the strength of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel, the type and amount of weapons and military hardware in their possession, and movement of their units.

Chubarova’s duties included material support for and provision of the DPR activities and formation of separate reconnaissance groups.

Chubarova’s lawyer Oleksandr Shadrin told Interfax that he considered the sentence unsubstantiated and was determined to appeal it. “We believe her guilt was not proven. We demanded her acquittal and will file an appeal,” he said.

Chubarova was detained on April 7, 2015.