Anastasia Shevchenko

Anastasia Shevchenko's father, Nugzari Sukhitashvili, was a Georgian who served in the Soviet military and her mother, Tamara Gryaznova, taught Russian language and literature. Shevchenko was born in the village of Dzhida in the Dzhidinsky district of Buryatia.{{cite web|url=https://www.infpol.ru/196462-v-rostove-na-donu-pokhoronili-doch-aktivistki-otkrytoy-rossii-iz-buryatii-/|title=В Ростове-на-Дону похоронили дочь активистки "Открытой России" из Бурятии|website=www.infpol.ru}} She met her future husband, Alexander Shevchenko in Jida and graduated from the Irkutsk State Linguistic University with the highest award. She and her family moved to the village of Egorlykskaya in the Rostov region after her eldest daughter, Alina, was born. Her second daughter, Vlada, and son, Misha, were born there. Shevchenko started to work for the local news as a journalist and was a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation for some time. On 5 November 2010, during the massacre in the village of Kuschevskaya, Shevchenko's friend Vladimir Mironenko and his family were brutally murdered. After her son was born, Shevchenko left with her husband and got involved in civil activism.{{cite web|url=https://mbk.news/suzhet/rostovskoe-delo-anastasii-shevchenko/|title="Ей пришлось самой встать впереди всех". Ростовское дело Анастасии Шевченко|website=mbk.news|date=4 February 2019 }}

Over the years, Shevchenko worked as the head of the television broadcasting department for MUP RT Zarya and as the senior inspector of the organisational and territorial division of the Election Commission for the Rostov region.{{cite web|url=http://www.rostov.aif.ru/culture/events/shtab_sobchak_v_rostove_vozglavit_izvestnaya_obshchestvennica|title=Штаб Ксении Собчак в Ростове возглавит известная общественница|date=17 November 2017|website=www.rostov.aif.ru}}

From 2017 to February 2018, she was the coordinator of the Rostov branch of the Open Russia Movement.{{cite web|url=http://www.donnews.ru/V-Rostove-smenilsya-koordinator-Otkrytoy-Rossii-_32937|title=Координатор "Открытой России" в Ростове оставила пост из-за сторонников Навального|website=www.donnews.ru}} During the presidential elections in 2018, Anastasia Shevchenko headed the regional headquarters of Ksenia Sobchak's campaign and headed the regional branch of the Civil Initiative Party.{{cite web|url=https://161.ru/text/gorod/366465564094464.html|title="Делаю это с радостью": в Ростове выбрали руководителя предвыборного штаба Собчак|date=17 November 2017|website=161.ru}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3565393|title=Без шума и креатива|date=2 March 2018 |publisher=|via=Kommersant}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3578035|title=От незаконного до смешного|date=19 March 2018 |publisher=|via=Kommersant}} Shevchenko was elected to the Federal Council of the Open Russia Movement at the Movement's annual conference on 25 March 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.khodorkovsky.com/open-russia-movement-elects-new-chairman/|title=Open Russia Movement Elects New Chairman|date=26 March 2018|website=Mikhail Khodorkovsky}} In January 2018, Anastasia Shevchenko was detained for putting up election ads in support of Sobchak.{{cite web|url=https://161.ru/text/gorod/388749527900160.html|title=В Ростове задержали руководителя штаба Собчак|date=18 January 2018|website=161.ru}}

In June 2018, she became one of the authors and activists campaigning against the pension reform which was entitled "They’ve stolen everything but our underpants".{{cite web|url=https://finance.rambler.ru/money/40210807-obobrali-do-trusov-v-rostove-protestuyut-protiv-povysheniya-pensionnogo-vozrasta/|title="Обобрали до трусов": в Ростове протестуют против повышения пенсионного возраста|website=Рамблер/финансы}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/322473/|title=Ростовская активистка вызвана в полицию после флешмоба "Обобрали до трусов"|first=Кавказский|last=Узел|website=Кавказский Узел}}{{cite web|url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/29331882.html|title="Обобрали до трусов". Голышом против пенсионной реформы|website=Радио Свобода}}

On 26 April 2017, the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia recognized the following organisations as "undesirable": Open Russia, the Open Russia Civic Movement (registered in the UK), the Institute of Modern Russia (headed by Mikhail Khodorkovsky's son Pavel in the US). According to the authorities, all three organizations were involved in the implementation of "special programs and projects aimed at discrediting the results of the Russian elections, at seeing the results thereof recognised illegitimate" and "encouraging protest speeches and destabilizing the domestic political situation, which poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional structure of the Russian Federation and the security of the state".{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5901036c9a79470412238073|title=Генпрокуратура пояснила внесение "Открытой России" в список нежелательных|website=РБК}} In May of the same year, the Russian Ministry of Justice told reporters at a press briefing that the work of the Russian Open Russia Movement will not be conflated with the work of the British organisations that had been recognised as "undesirable".{{cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/562673|title=У Минюста РФ не оказалось претензий к "Открытой России"|date=17 May 2017|website=Interfax.ru}}

In January 2019, the authorities conducted searches against Open Russia activists in Pskov, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, and Ulyanovsk.{{cite web|url=https://zona.media/chronicle/openrussia|title=Задержания и обыски у активистов "Открытой России"|website=Медиазона}}{{cite web | url=https://meduza.io/feature/2019/01/21/v-otkrytoy-rossii-ustroili-obyski-zavedeno-pervoe-ugolovnoe-delo-o-rabote-nezhelatelnoy-organizatsii | title=В "Открытой России" устроили обыски. Возбуждено первое уголовное дело о работе "нежелательной" организации | language=ru | date=21 January 2019 | publisher=Meduza | accessdate=7 May 2020 }} On 21 January they searched Anastasia Shevchenko's house.{{cite web|url=https://donday.ru/v-rostove-proshli-obyski-u-aktivistov-dvizheniya-otkrytaya-rossiya.html|title=В Ростове прошли обыски у активистов движения "Открытая Россия"|website=DonDay - новости Ростова-на-Дону. Происшествия, события, новости бизнеса, политики, культуры и спорта.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3860018|title=Закрытка|date=21 January 2019 |publisher=|via=Kommersant}} She was detained shortly afterwards. Shevchenko was kept in a pre-trial detention facility for 48 hours until her court hearing. On 23 January she was placed under house arrest by the Leninsky District Court of Rostov-on-Don.{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/proisshestviya/6032997|title=Суд отправил под домашний арест активистку "Открытой России" из Ростова-на-Дону|website=ТАСС}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3861287|title=Анастасию Шевченко из "Открытой России" заключили под домашний арест на месяц|date=23 January 2019|website=www.kommersant.ru}} On 29 January, the Rostov Regional Court upheld the lower court's decision to place her under house arrest.{{cite web|url=https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/330974/|title=Анастасия Шевченко оставлена под домашним арестом|first=Кавказский|last=Узел|website=Кавказский Узел}}

On 31 January, Shevchenko's eldest daughter, Alina, died in Zverev City Hospital. She was taken into the intensive care unit two days earlier and the investigator only allowed Shevchenko to visit her a few hours before she died.{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/proisshestviya/6064398|title=В аппарате детского омбудсмена подтвердили смерть дочери активистки "Открытой России"|website=ТАСС}} On 1 February, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to President Vladimir Putin, expressed his condolences at the death of Shevchenko's daughter.{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/obschestvo/6067766|title=Песков выразил соболезнования в связи со смертью дочери активистки "Открытой России"|website=ТАСС}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/2019/02/01/793026-peskov|title=Песков выразил соболезнования в связи со смертью дочери активистки Шевченко|last=Ведомости|date=1 February 2019|website=www.vedomosti.ru}}

On 24 January Human Rights Watch condemned persecution of Shevchenko and violation of her right to freedom of expression and association.https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/01/24/russia-first-criminal-case-under-undesirables-law=Russia{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}: First Criminal Case under ‘Undesirables’ Law On 25 January Memorial recognized Shevchenko as a prisoner of conscience. On 7 February, members of the Presidential Human Rights Council (HRC) and a number of human rights defenders came out in support of Anastasia Shevchenko and Vyacheslav Egorov.{{cite web|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3875604|title=Правозащитники вступились за активистов Анастасию Шевченко и Вячеслава Егорова|date=7 February 2019 |publisher=|via=Kommersant}} On the same day, the US Mission to the OSCE expressed concerns over her prosecution.{{cite web|url=https://osce.usmission.gov/on-russias-undesirable-organization-legislation/|title=On the Criminal Charges Filed by Russia under its "Undesirable Organization" Legislation|date=7 February 2019|website=U.S. Mission to the OSCE}} On 8 February, the Memorial Human Rights Center, Russia's oldest human rights organization, recognized Anastasia Shevchenko as a victim of political persecution and a political prisoner.{{cite web|url=https://zona.media/news/2019/02/08/shevchenko|title="Мемориал" признал политической заключенной активистку "Открытой России" Шевченко, на которую завели дело о "нежелательной" организации|website=Медиазона}}{{cite web|url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/2019/02/08/149075-memorial-priznal-chlena-otkrytoy-rossii-anastasiyu-shevchenko-presleduemoy-po-politicheskim-motivam|title="Мемориал" признал члена "Открытой России" Анастасию Шевченко преследуемой по политическим мотивам|website=Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru}}{{cite web|url=http://bloknot-rostov.ru/news/aktivistka-otkrytoy-rossii-anastasiya-shevchenko-p-1067821|title=Активистка "Открытой России" Анастасия Шевченко признана политзаключенной|website=bloknot-rostov.ru}} On 21 February, 12 human rights organisations signed a statement calling for the release of Anastasia Shevchenko as well as other political prisoners in Russia.{{cite web|url=https://www.4freerussia.org/press-release-the-launch-of-the-coalition-to-free-the-kremlins-political-prisoners/|title=PRESS-RELEASE: the launch of the Coalition to Free the Kremlin's Political Prisoners|date=21 February 2019|publisher=}} Two US senators also published a statement condemning the Kremlin's persecution of Anastasia Shevchenko.{{cite web|url=https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/press-and-media/press-releases/wicker-cardin-condemn-detention-russian-activist|title=Wicker, Cardin Condemn Detention of Russian Activist Nastya Shevchenko|date=7 February 2019|website=CSCE}}

On 15 March, the Leninsky District Court of Rostov-on-Don extended Shevchenko's house arrest until 17 June 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/2019/03/15/150034-sud-prodlil-domashniy-arest-aktivistke-otkrytoy-rossii-anastasii-shevchenko-obvinyaemoy-v-sotrudnichestve-s-nezhelatelnoy-organizatsiey|title=Активистке "Открытой России" Анастасии Шевченко продлили домашний арест. Суд отказался разрешить ей водить детей в школу|website=Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru}}{{cite web|url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/29823603.html|title=Ростовский суд продлил домашний арест Анастасии Шевченко|website=Радио Свобода}}{{cite web|url=https://161.ru/text/politics/66018757|title=Ростовской правозащитнице Анастасии Шевченко продлили меру пресечения|date=15 March 2019|website=161.ru}} The court also rejected the appeals made by Shevchenko's defense to soften the terms of her house arrest.{{cite web|url=https://www.1rnd.ru/news/2352683/rostovskij-oblsud-otkazalsa-smagcat-uslovia-domasnego-aresta-anastasii-sevcenko|title=Ростовский облсуд отказался смягчать условия домашнего ареста Анастасии Шевченко|website=1rnd.ru - Сайт города Ростова-на-Дону}}

On 18 February 2021 Shevchenko was found guilty and received a suspended sentence of 4 years of imprisonment{{Cite web |title=Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru |url=https://novayagazeta.ru/news/2021/02/18/167680-shevchenko |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru |language=ru |archive-date=18 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218132043/https://novayagazeta.ru/news/2021/02/18/167680-shevchenko |url-status=dead }}(later it was reduced to 3 years).

In August 2022 Shevchenko informed that she had left Russia and moved to Vilnius.{{Cite web |title=Бывшая активистка "Открытой России" Анастасия Шевченко уехала из страны |url=https://ovd.news/express-news/2022/08/30/byvshaya-aktivistka-otkrytoy-rossii-anastasiya-shevchenko-uehala-iz-strany |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=ОВД-News |language=ru}} After that she was declared a fugitive for "evading the punishment".

On 1 February 2019, protests began in support of Anastasia Shevchenko. The first demonstration took place in Rostov-on-Don.{{cite web|url=https://161.ru/text/gorod/65906891|title=В Ростове прошел пикет в поддержку арестованной Анастасии Шевченко|date=1 February 2019|website=161.ru}} On 10 February a series of rallies in support of Shevchenko took place under the banner "Mothers' Fury" in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo and Tambov and protestors in Moscow and St Petersburg were arrested.{{cite web|url=https://www.interfax.ru/moscow/649946|title=В Москве прошла акция в поддержку оппозиционерки Анастасии Шевченко|date=10 February 2019|website=Interfax.ru}}{{cite web|url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2019/02/10/79500-byla-li-u-vas-mat-poruchik|title=Была ли у вас мать, подпоручик?|date=10 February 2019|website=Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru}}{{cite web|url=https://zona.media/chronicle/anger-march|title="Марш материнского гнева" в поддержку Анастасии Шевченко|website=Медиазона}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-47189432|title=В городах России прошел "Марш материнского гнева". Есть задержанные|newspaper=BBC News Русская Служба |date=10 February 2019|publisher=}} On 24 February, during a march in Moscow in memory of Boris Nemtsov a separate column developed that demanded an end to the criminal prosecution of civil and political activists, including Anastasia Shevchenko.{{cite web|url=https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/332167/|title=Участники марша памяти Немцова в Москве призвали освободить политзаключенных|first=Кавказский|last=Узел|website=Кавказский Узел}}

On 31 March 2019, the Open Russia Conference put out a statement demanding an end to the criminal prosecution of Anastasia Shevchenko.{{cite web|url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/2019/03/31/150470-v-otkrytoy-rossii-zayavili-o-namerenii-dobitsya-registratsii-ih-novoy-obschestvennoy-organizatsii|title=Председателем "Открытой России" стала юрист Анастасия Буракова|website=Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru}} On the same day, the Movement announced its liquidation to protect its activists from criminal prosecution.{{cite web|url=https://www.znak.com/2019-03-31/otkrytaya_rossiya_obyavila_o_svoey_likvidacii|title="Открытая Россия" объявила о своей ликвидации|website=www.znak.com|access-date=9 April 2019|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401165947/https://www.znak.com/2019-03-31/otkrytaya_rossiya_obyavila_o_svoey_likvidacii|url-status=dead}}

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Category:1979 births

Category:Russian women activists

Category:Living people

Category:People from Buryatia

Category:Political prisoners according to Memorial