Kotlyar Tatyana Mikhaylovna

In March 2014, a criminal case was opened in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, against human rights activist Tatyana Kotlyar, a participant in the Migration and Law project of the Memorial Human Rights Center and chairperson of the Kaluga branch of the public movement For Human Rights, for the "fictitious registration of foreign citizens" in her apartment, involving 84 foreign citizens in 2013. Since July 1, 2014, Kotlyar has been under a travel restriction. On November 9, 2015, Magistrate Judge Dmitry Trifonov of Judicial Precinct No. 15 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, found Kotlyar guilty and sentenced her to a fine of 150,000 rubles. The human rights activist was immediately amnestied in the courtroom in connection with the 70th anniversary of Victory Day. On December 23, 2015, the Obninsk City Court upheld the sentence. On November 9, 2014, a second criminal case was opened against the human rights activist for the "fictitious registration of foreign citizens" in her apartment, involving 167 foreign citizens in 2014. No preventive measures were imposed on her. On September 12, 2017, Justice of the Peace Dmitry Trifonov of Judicial Precinct No. 16 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, found Tatyana Kotlyar guilty and sentenced her to a fine of 150,000 rubles, but released her from punishment due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. On February 8, 2018, the Obninsk City Court overturned the sentence regarding Kotlyar's release from criminal liability and terminated the criminal prosecution, releasing her from criminal liability. In June 2018, a third criminal case was opened against Tatyana Kotlyar for the "fictitious registration of foreign citizens" of 22 foreign citizens and the "fictitious registration for migration purposes" of 53 foreign citizens in her apartment in 2017. No preventive measures were imposed on her. On April 26, 2019, Magistrate Judge Evgeniya Ovchinnikova of Judicial Precinct No. 17 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, dismissed the criminal prosecution of Tatyana Kotlyar and released her from punishment. On April 27, 2020, a fourth criminal case was opened against the human rights activist for the "fictitious registration for migration purposes" of foreign citizens in her apartment. No preventive measures were imposed on her. On December 22, 2020, Magistrate Zakhar Orlovsky of Judicial Precinct No. 17 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, found Tatyana Kotlyar guilty and fined her 150,000 rubles. On March 15, 2021, the Obninsk City Court of Kaluga Region excluded several counts from the case and reduced the fine to 140,000 rubles. No later than February 2022 (the exact date is unknown), a fifth criminal case was opened against the human rights activist for "fictitious registration of foreign citizens for migration purposes" in her apartment. Kotlyar was placed on bail pending the investigation. On April 13, 2022, Magistrate Evgeniya Ovchinnikova of Judicial Precinct No. 17 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, found Tatyana Kotlyar guilty and fined her 480,000 rubles, minus 140,000 rubles from the previous sentence. On July 19, 2022, the Obninsk City Court in the Kaluga Region amended the sentence, slapping Kotlyar with a fine of 350,000 rubles. In late March 2023, a sixth criminal case was opened against Kotlyar for "fictitious registration of foreign citizens for migration purposes" in her apartment. Then, the office of the "For Human Rights" movement was searched. Law enforcement officers seized all visitor logs dating back to 2009 and other information. Outdated migration registration forms and Russian language exam certificates were also confiscated from the office. In this criminal case, Tatyana Mikhailovna was accused for the first time of fictitious registration of not only foreign citizens but also Russian citizens. No preventive measures were imposed on her. On June 28, 2023, Magistrate Andrei Torzhkov of Judicial Precinct No. 15 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, found Tatyana Kotlyar guilty and sentenced her to a fine of 650,000 rubles. On August 21, 2023, the Obninsk City Court of Kaluga Region reduced the fine to 600,000. In the fall of 2023, a seventh criminal case was opened against Kotlyar for "fictitious registration of foreign citizens for migration purposes" in her apartment. During the investigation, Kotlyar was ordered not to leave the city. On March 18, 2024, Magistrate Judge of Judicial Precinct No. 15 in Obninsk, Kaluga Region, found Tatyana Kotlyar guilty and sentenced her to a fine of 450,000 rubles. On May 14, 2024, the Obninsk City Court reduced the fine by 20,000 rubles, from 450,000 to 430,000.