Anastasia Rybachenko, a Russian student and opposition activist who currently resides in Estonia, has been declared a fugitive in her country in connection with clashes that broke out between protesters and riot police on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square on May 6.
The Russian Investigative Committee declared Rybachenko a fugitive on September 11, however the news had not reached the press until now.
The March of Millions rally, held on the eve of President Vladimir Putin's taking office, turned violent, ending in numerous injuries in the detention of some 400 demonstraters, according to RIA Novosti.
Rybachenko has been listed as a witness in the criminal case related to the clashes. Various Russian media outlets have suggested that she could end up having to face charges, but official information in this regard is unavailable, Lenta.ru reported.
Rybachenko came to Estonia to finish her studies after having been forced out of her university in Russia. In September, she told ERR that her political science studies were cut short after her fourth year when investigators visited her university department.
Rybachenko added that even though she has been listed as a witness, her home was searched and her file contains a note saying that she might attempt to hide from criminal prosecution. The press release that was published on the Investigative Committee's website refers to her as a participant in the riots.
In July, Russian media reported that Rybachenko was accused of violence against the police.
Currently, 17 people have been charged in connection with the Bolotnaya case. Four of them were required to sign an agreement not to leave their places of residence, one was placed under house arrest and the rest are being held in preliminary investigation facilities.
Recently, Rybachenko tweeted that she has enrolled in the Tallinn University of Technology.
Sigrid Maasen
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