European Union condemns prosecution of Valentina Cherevatenko

The charges against Valentina Cherevatenko, the leader of the "Union 'Women of Don'", suspected of wilful refusal to perform the duties specified by the law on foreign agents, are detrimental to civil society in Russia. This was stated by Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for the EU foreign policy chief.

On June 29, the European Union stood in support of Valentina Cherevatenko. "Russian law enforcers open the first criminal case in connection with the violation of the law on NGOs acting as foreign agents," reports the statement made by Maja Kocijancic.

The practice of enforcement of that law "cripples civil society and restricts fundamental freedoms." It is also indicated that "outstanding activities of Valentina Cherevatenko in the sphere of education and peace-keeping and in the humanitarian sphere are widely known and highly appreciated."

Earlier, advocate Ildar Shafiev has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the case against Valentina Cherevatenko is being considered by investigators for particularly important cases of the Seventh Investigating Department deployed in Rostov-on-Don.

Valentina Cherevatenko herself does not consider the activities of her organizations as "political". According to her, the "Women of Don" Foundation received money not from the Heinrich Böll Foundation, as the investigators suggested, but from the EU.

At present, the organizations founded by Valentina Cherevatenko continue their work. Valentina Cherevatenko has also noted that she is still a member of the Public Monitoring Commission (PMC) of the Rostov Region and a member of the Public Chamber of the city of Novocherkassk.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.