Stored for 30 days and already deleted: the court refused to provide Maria Ponomarenko with a video recording of the attack on an FSIN officer for which she is being tried.

The hearing on the third criminal case against the RusNews journalist took place in Rubtsovsk. According to representatives of IK-9, the recordings from the CCTV cameras are stored "only 30 days and already deleted." Only the following remained at our disposal: "short snippets" writes RusNews.

Maria Ponomarenko accused of "disorganization of the colony's activities" — an attack on an FSIN officer. The journalist herself previously reported that a guard touched her shoulder. She jerked back, pushed his hand away, and asked him not to touch her. At some point, while pulling away, she accidentally hit him in the face.

At the hearing, Maria asked to speak to the warden of Correctional Colony No. 9 to explain why she hadn't been transferred to another cell when the neighboring ones were vacant. According to the journalist, the area around her cell was constantly filled with noise, dust, and rats from the sewer. This caused Ponomarenko to experience worsening claustrophobia and headaches, a drop in hemoglobin, and suicidal thoughts.

The court rejected all defense motions.

In February 2023, the court in BarnaulSentenced Maria Ponomarenko to six years in prison for a post about the attack on the Mariupol drama theater. She became one of the first defendants in a Russian case involving military "fakes."

March 27, 2025 Shipunovsky District Court of Altai Kraisentenced Maria Ponomarenko to another year and 10 months in prison for the "beating" of prison staff.

In the summer of 2025, Maria attempted suicide three times. The cause was a nervous breakdown due to repeated placements in solitary confinement and a conflict with prison administration. While in prison, Ponomarenko's health and psychological state deteriorated significantly.