Natalya Baljakina
- Criminal Code
- Article 160 part 3, Russian Criminal CodeArticle 163 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
- Verdict
- Imprisonment (general regime)
- Sentence
- 3 years
- Date of verdict
- 2015-10-21
- Region
- Perm Krai
- City
- NULL
Case summary
A resident of Perm Krai, a journalist. She worked as an editor for the private newspaper "Chaykovskie Vedomosti." In 2007, she was awarded the Andrei Sakharov Medal "Peace, Progress, and Human Rights" and a diploma "For Journalism as an Act." In 2015, she was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of embezzling 751,000 rubles while serving as the director of the LLC "City Management Company." Baljakina denied her guilt and attributed the criminal prosecution to a conflict with local officials due to her work at "Chaykovskie Vedomosti." During most of her sentence, she spent time in the prison hospital. During her transfer to another prison, she suffered a stroke, after which she was returned to the hospital. In 2017, the activist was released on parole.
On 9th February 2024, Baljakina was detained, and on 13th February, she was placed in custody on charges of extortion. On 8th May, her measure of restraint was changed to house arrest, and on 6th June, to a ban on certain activities.
On 10th April 2025, Baljakina passed away.
Others charged under Article 160 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
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Source: this person’s record in the OVD-Info political persecution database
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