Putin Pardons Blogger Lerchek in Funds Transfer Case

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree pardoning blogger Valeria Chekalina, known by her pseudonym Lerchek. This decision exempted her from further serving her sentence in the criminal case.

Valeria Chekalina was accused of illegally transferring over 250 million rubles to accounts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first-instance court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment suspended and imposed a fine of more than 760 million rubles.

The consideration of the case had previously been suspended in March due to the defendant's poor health. Oncological disease was detected in Valeria Chekalina, leading to house arrest being replaced by a restriction on certain actions.

After the verdict was handed down, the blogger appealed to the head of state for a pardon. The execution of the sentence was postponed pending the resolution of this issue.