The court upheld the sentence of journalist Maria Ponomarenko in a second criminal case for allegedly "beating" prison staff.

В Altai Regional Court The appeal was heard, RusNews reports. Fifteen people came to support the publication's journalist.

"I'm not ready for the court hearing, I wrote… categorically! They didn't release a letter to my lawyer, they didn't release a petition to the court. I don't trust Russian courts <…> I've been in prison for four years, even though there's not a single piece of evidence in my first case," Ponomarenko said.

Maria filed a motion to be called as a witness Alena Ikonnikova, which could confirm the lack of food rations in IK-6, as well as provocation and violence by the prison warden. The court rejected the claim.

"You embody your president! You're a criminal and a judge! Give me five years straight! You have no right to hear this case!" the journalist shouted emotionally at the judge.

According to the defense, Ponomarenko lost control of her emotions and volition. She was given a sedative. But during the closing arguments, she lost her temper again. The journalist was "removed from the courtroom," and her videoconference was muted.

On March 27, the Shipunovsky District Court of the Altai Territory sentenced Maria Ponomarenko to 1 year and 10 months colony in the case of "beating" colony employees. The prosecutor's office demanded that this punishment be increased to four years. Maria was previously sentenced to six years old penal colonies for spreading "fakes" about the Russian army due to posts on social media.