| State Prosecutor Anna Evgenievna POTYCHKO is an involved person under the Russia (EU Exit) (Sanctions) Regulations 2019. First, POTYCHKO was part of the prosecution team in the criminal proceedings against Vladimir Kara-Murza, appearing in the Moscow City Court for the prosecution on 18 May 2022, arguing against the defence’s appeal from the order of the District Court to keep Kara-Murza in custody during the trial. Kara-Murza was subsequently found guilty of three charges, including disseminating false information about the Russian Armed Forces under part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code, one of the so-called “fake news” laws. POTYCHKO was also involved in the criminal proceedings against Ilya Yashin under the same law, and made public comment regarding preventing Yashin from expressing anti-war views to journalists during those proceedings. This law and its application and enforcement by prosecutors and courts is a result of the Russian Government’s policy to prevent the Russian public from knowing the truth about the conflict in Ukraine. This policy prevents the spread of accurate information about the conflict in Ukraine, as well as anti-war sentiment and dissent, which would reduce public support for the war and undermine the Russian Government’s ability to wage the war. In this way, the policy is facilitating the continuation of the war, which is destabilising Ukraine and undermining its territorial integrity and sovereignty. POTYCHKO’s involvement as part of the prosecution team in the criminal proceedings against Kara-Murza, her appearance on behalf of the prosecution to oppose the appeal against preventative detention, and her involvement in and statement regarding the proceedings against Yashin demonstrate that she is an involved person because she is providing support for a policy that is destabilising Ukraine and undermining its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Second, POTYCHKO is associated with an involved person, namely, Andrey Zadachin. Zadachin was designated by the UK Government on 21 April 2023 for his role as investigator in the criminal proceedings against Kara-Murza. Zadachin and POTYCHKO were both part of the prosecution team for the criminal proceedings against Kara-Murza, and therefore hold, or have held, a professional association. |
