Judge Olga Fedina of the Tushinsky District Court of Moscow sentenced pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova, accused of spreading military 'fakes', to 5.5 years in a penal colony. She is also prohibited from administering websites for two years, reports a correspondent from 'Mediazona'* from the courtroom. The prosecution requested six years in a penal colony.
The case against the 68-year-old doctor was initiated after Anastasia Akinshina, the ex-wife of a soldier killed in Ukraine, claimed that the doctor allegedly made 'negative comments' about the Russian army during the appointment. The pediatrician and her defense insisted that the case is based solely on false testimonies of the mother and child. Buyanova did not plead guilty, confirming that she attended to Akinshina, who reported her, but did not say the phrases she is accused of.
The lawyers noted that the investigation takes Akinshina's words at face value without any evidence, and the recording from the pediatrician's office disappeared 'under mysterious circumstances'.
'It hurts to read these offensive words — 'on the grounds of political hatred'. Hatred is a deep and strong feeling, it is not inherent to me as a doctor. Without humanity, there is nothing to do in medicine,' said Nadezhda Buyanova in her final statement, noting that with the political hatred she is accused of, one cannot go into medicine.
Today, before the verdict was announced, Nadezhda Buyanova was asked to address the people. 'Every person should have an inner core, their own beliefs. A person should empathize with others, that's why they are human. You need to be able to empathize and love people,' she replied to those gathered in the courtroom.
When the verdict was announced, the listeners began shouting 'Shame!' at the judge, after which protocols on administrative offenses were drawn up against two girls.
'The sentence is monstrously harsh. We did not expect this. It is unexpectedly severe even for me,' commented lawyer Oskar Cherdzhiev on Buyanova's real sentence.
The publication Sotavision* published a decree by Vladimir Putin dated October 30, according to which Judge Olga Fedina was promoted to the position of judge of the Moscow City Court.
* Recognized in Russia as 'foreign agents'
Photo: Alexandra Astakhova/Mediazona