Russia: Maria Ponomarenko Hit with Further Criminal Charges
The jailed journalist is accused of violence against prison staff
Location: Russia, Barnaul
Date: December 8, 2023
Imprisoned Siberian journalist Maria Ponomarenko, already serving a six-year sentence for alleged dissemination of misinformation about the Russian army, is now facing additional criminal charges. She is being accused of violently attacking prison staff and faces an additional sentence of up to five years. Since being put behind bars in April 2022, Ponomarenko has repeatedly reported mistreatment by prison staff. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemn the new accusations and believe it is an attempt to further punish the journalist for speaking out about mistreatment and poor conditions in the Shipunovo prison colony.
The latest charges against Maria Ponomarenko, officially filed on December 8, 2023, accuse her of using violence against staff within the detention facility. If convicted, Ponomarenko could face an additional sentence of up to five years on top of her existing six-year term.
Dmitry Chitov, Ponomarenko's lawyer, says the new case against the journalist was initiated on October 26, 2023. The charges allege that Ponomarenko attacked two employees of the detention facility, including the head of the security department. The official version claims that she resisted attending a disciplinary commission, leading the detention facility staff to forcibly take her there. Ponomarenko denies the allegations, asserting that she did not attack anyone.
Ponomarenko was transferred to Shipunovo prison colony on September 6, 2023. Concerns about her well-being were heightened in October 2023 when the journalist was put into solitary confinement after fainting. The journalist has been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Her lawyer, Dmitry Chitov, has stressed her urgent need for medical assistance while in prison. Her colleagues believe she faced escalating pressure after complaining to prison staff about unsanitary conditions, low-quality products, and a shortage of essential household items.
The Siberian journalist was first arrested in April 2022 and later sentenced to six years in prison for posting on Instagram about civilian deaths caused by Russian forces in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol. While in pre-trial detention in a Siberian psychiatric hospital in 2022, Ponomarenko revealed that she was tortured. She alleges being forcibly administered unknown substances when requesting personal belongings and subjected to a "psychiatric evaluation" involving involuntary drugging.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the latest charges against Ponomarenko. Accusing her of attacking prison staff, especially after her repeated complaints of mistreatment, seems retaliatory. The Kremlin's persistent persecution of independent journalists is unacceptable. We express deep concern about Ponomarenko's health in custody and demand Russian authorities ensure her well-being by providing necessary medical care. All charges must be dismissed, and she should be released immediately.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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