Investigation into case against director of library of Ukrainian literature prolonged until January 28
MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) - The investigation into the case against Natalya Sharina, director of the Ukrainian Literature Library, who is accused of disseminating extremist materials, has been prolonged until January 28, an Interfax correspondent has reported, citing an investigator's statement made in the Presnensky court, which is considering the issue of prolonging Sharina's house arrest.
The investigator is asking for Sharina's house arrest to be prolonged until January 28.
The Ukrainian Literature Library was searched on October 28. Sharina, 58, the director of the library, was later detained and a criminal case was opened against her on the basis of the article dealing with "the fanning of ethnic hatred and feud and belittling a person's dignity." She denies her guilt.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the case was opened after investigators found out that the library offered visitors a book by Dmytro Korchynsky, which was previously qualified as extremist by a Russian court ruling that banned the book's use.
Investigative Committee spokeswoman Yulia Ivanova told Interfax on October 30 formal charges had been filed against Sharina after she was put under house arrest by the Moscow Tagansky Court at the request of the investigators until December 27.
Law enforcement officials later searched the apartments of three employees of the library and then conducted another search of the library.
Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer for Sharina, said on Monday the library may be disbanded.