Belarusian media say Sapega may be transferred to Russia soon

MINSK. April 14 (Interfax) - A Russian court is about to hear a petition on transferring Russian citizen Sofia Sapega convicted in Belarus to Russia for serving her prison term at home, while Belarus has given its preliminary consent to her transfer and is preparing the necessary documents, Belarusian media reported on Friday.

"Belarus's preliminary consent [to Sapega's transfer from Belarus to Russia] has been obtained," Sapega's defense lawyer Anton Gashinsky told Belarusian journalists.

Gashinsky said he did not receive any statements denying Sapega's transfer to Russia and that both she and he were expecting the relevant documents to be transferred to Russia for a Russian court to hear the matter.

"A Russian court will hear the case after the Russian Prosecutor General's Office provides it with materials received from the Belarusian Prosecutor General's Office," Gashinsky said.

It has not been reported when the documents may arrive.

Sapega's relatives earlier appealed to the Russian Justice Ministry to secure her transfer to Russia. Sapega was also visited in Belarus by the Russian consul, who obtained her consent to be extradited.

Belarus sentenced Sapega to six years in prison in May 2022. She was found guilty of deliberate actions aimed at fomenting social enmity and discord that led to grave consequences, as well as the illegal collection and dissemination of personal data. After being convicted, Sapega submitted a pardon request to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, which he declined.