“USSR citizens” from Kuzbass have been given suspended sentences of five and six years in an extremism case.

Anna Belyaeva and Olga Ivashchenko, residents of Kemerovo Oblast—a coal-mining region in southwestern Siberia—were given suspended sentences of six and five years respectively on 20 June in a case involving their alleged involvement with an “extremist organisation.” This was reported by the Telegram channel “Kuzbass Against Extremism,” which is linked to the security services. The names of the defendants were published by the SOVA research centre.

According to the investigation, the women created a regional cell of the civil society organisation “Free Rus Community.” As noted by the SOVA centre, it is an “ideological ally of the ‘USSR’ organisation of Sergey Taraskin, which was recognised as extremist and banned.”

Investigators believe that, during the cell’s existence, the Kemerovo Oblast residents “recruited more than 50 people into extremist activities.”

The court found Olga Ivashchenko guilty under the article on organising the activities of a religious organisation whose activities have been recognised as “extremist” (Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). Anna Belyaeva was sentenced under articles on participation in such an organisation (Part 2, Article 282.2), recruitment to it (Part 1.1, Article 282.2), and financing extremist activities (Part 1, Article 282.3).

The “Kuzbass Against Extremism” Telegram channel notes that Belyaeva was considered the “leader of the cell,” while Olga Ivashchenko was described as a “follower.” The women’s case went to trial in August last year.