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Russian Opposition Activist's Drug-Related Sentence Upheld


Taisiya Osipova in a Smolensk court in August
Taisiya Osipova in a Smolensk court in August
A court in the western Russian region of Smolensk has upheld the sentence of an opposition activist.

Taisiya Osipova, an activist of the Other Russia political party, was sentenced to eight years in jail in August.

She was arrested in November 2010 for alleged drug dealing.

Osipova's lawyers maintain the case was fabricated in order to put pressure on her husband, Sergei Fomchenkov, a senior member of Other Russia.

In December, the court sentenced Osipova to 10 years.

But in February, the regional court in Smolensk declined to uphold the verdict and ordered a new trial.

Osipova's lawyers say they will continue to appeal the verdict.

Based on reporting by ITAR-TASS and Interfax

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