Oxana Sokolovskaya, the lawyer who defended captured Russian soldier Yevgeny Yerofeyev in a Kiev court, is to sue Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for ?€?damage to her honor and her professional reputation,?€? the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
The lawsuit, which also includes Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoly Matios, is claiming compensation for moral damages.
She claims that the men slandered her during the course of Yerofeyev's trial by saying that she was collaborating with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Interfax reported.
Poroshenko must refute allegations he made at a press conference on June 3, that Sokolovskaya and other lawyers delayed the trial in Kiev to coordinate their actions with the FSB, she said. Matios allegedly made similar claims in a television broadcast on June 4.
Writing on her website, Sokolovskaya claimed she had already faced problems filing the lawsuit, Interfax reported.
Sokolovskaya represented Yevgeny Yerofeyev, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of terrorist activity in eastern Ukraine along with fellow soldier Alexander Alexandrov.
They were exchanged for Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian pilot who was jailed for 22 years after being found guilty of involvement in the murder of two Russian reporters in eastern Ukraine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.