In a controversial case that has spanned nearly two decades, Russian prosecutors have requested a 10-year prison sentence for Antonina Martynova, the wife of exiled journalist Kirill Martynov, regarding the alleged attempted murder of her daughter, as reported by the online news outlet Mediazona on Thursday.
Martynova, formerly known as Antonina Fyodorova, had evaded criminal punishment for 16 years following a 2008 guilty verdict by a Russian jury for attempting to throw her toddler-aged daughter down a stairwell. She was apprehended by police on April 3 after years of eluding authorities.
Throughout the proceedings, Martynova has maintained her innocence, asserting that her daughter, Alisa, accidentally fell while attempting to climb through a stair railing, and she intervened to prevent the fall.
According to Mediazona, prosecutors urged the Novgorod District Court to impose a 10-year prison term on Martynova for attempted murder, emphasizing the severity of the charges against her.
The case has garnered significant attention due to its protracted nature and the involvement of Martynov, a prominent journalist who has been critical of the Russian government. Critics have raised concerns about the fairness of the trial and the potential for political motivations behind Martynova’s prosecution.
As the legal proceedings unfold, observers await the court’s decision, which will have far-reaching implications for Martynova and her family, as well as broader implications for the Russian judicial system’s integrity and independence.