A Russian court sentenced Antonina Martynova, wife of exiled journalist Kirill Martynov, to nine years in prison for the attempted murder of her daughter nearly two decades ago. The incident occurred in 2008 when she was found guilty of attempting to throw her toddler-aged daughter down a stairwell, but had evaded punishment for 16 years until she was detained by police on April 3. Martynova has maintained that her daughter fell accidentally while climbing through a stair railing before she could catch her.
The Novgorod Regional Court in northwest Russia found Martynova guilty and handed her the nine-year prison sentence, after prosecutors had requested 10 years in medium-security prison. Despite the accusations against her, Martynova denied the charges and pleaded to the court not to separate her from her 19-year-old daughter. Her daughter, Alisa, testified that the 2007 incident was an accident and asked the judge to acquit her mother. Kirill Martynov, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe and still legally married to Martynova, has not commented on the case.
Russian authorities have labeled Martynov as a “foreign agent” and designated Novaya Gazeta Europe as an “undesirable” organization. It was reported by Russian state media last year that the police had reopened an investigation into Martynov on suspicion of coercing his wife to “get rid of” Alisa, who is from a previous marriage. The only witness in that case, who was 11 years old at the time, died from a drug overdose, as reported by the state-funded broadcaster NTV.
The case of Antonina Martynova and Kirill Martynov has gained attention due to their connections to the media and the controversy surrounding their alleged involvement in the attempted murder of Martynova’s daughter. Despite maintaining her innocence, Martynova was found guilty by the Novgorod Regional Court and sentenced to nine years in prison. The statements made by Alisa in support of her mother and the lack of comment from Kirill Martynov have further added to the intrigue surrounding this case.
The fact that Kirill Martynov is the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe, an independent newspaper that has been labeled as an “undesirable” organization by Russian authorities, has also sparked interest in the case. The accusations against both Martynov and Martynova have led to renewed investigations and suspicions of foul play in the attempted murder of Alisa. The death of the only witness in the case adds another layer of mystery to the situation and raises questions about the validity of the allegations against the couple.
As the legal proceedings continue and more information emerges about the case, the public will be watching closely to see how it unfolds. The involvement of a prominent journalist and the allegations of attempted murder have captured the attention of many, both in Russia and internationally. The implications of this case for freedom of the press and the rule of law in Russia are significant, and the outcome will likely have a lasting impact on the individuals involved and their reputations. The complexities and controversies surrounding this case make it a compelling and controversial story that has brought attention to issues of justice, media freedom, and personal relationships.
