The Fifth Appellate Court in Novosibirsk ruled to confiscate 500,000 rubles from Zabaykalsky journalist Nika Novak, sentenced to four years in a penal colony for her connection with a foreign organization due to her cooperation with "Radio Liberty", reported "Siberia. Realities"*. In addition, the prosecution intends to recover the costs from the convicted for the travel of prosecution witnesses to the courts — because of this, the case was returned for reconsideration.
According to the court, 500,000 rubles were "earned through criminal means", thus qualifying Novak's cooperation with "Radio Liberty". The motion to confiscate the money was filed by the prosecution.
At the end of March, Novak was placed on "preventive registration" in the Novosibirsk detention center, where she was awaiting the verdict on her appeal. Registration implies stricter conditions of detention. The defense is determining on whose initiative and on what grounds this decision was made, after which it will appeal it.
Nika Novak was detained on December 25, 2023. She was accused of "confidential cooperation" with a foreign organization. In November of last year, a court in Chita sentenced her to four years in prison for her professional activities. Human rights activists consider the article charged against Novak to be repressive and note that it was originally written with gross legal flaws. Charges under this article can be brought against anyone.
Novak worked at the publication ChitaMedia, then was the chief editor of the site Zab.ru. Since 2021, she led the "Gifted" center in Chita, where musical and poetic evenings were held. Since 2022, she has been cooperating as a freelance correspondent with "Radio Liberty".
* Recognized in Russia as "foreign agents" and "undesirable" organization.
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