The High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation received an appeal for the protection of the rights of the disabled person in group 1, 62-year-old Natalya Jankovich, who at that time had been detained for almost a year on the charge of especially serious offence under clause "a", part 2 of Article 126 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — for the abduction of her own daughter by transporting her to a medical organisation for drug treatment.

The validity and legal correctness of the charges filed in the case raised doubts: the materials submitted by the applicant indicated the inconsistency of the evidence in the case. Given the circumstances of the case and the state of health of the citizen Jankovich, her detention was obviously illegal.

On May 24, 2017, the High Commissioner sent an appeal to the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation embodying her official position on this issue.

A representative of the Prosecutor’s Office accepted the High Commissioner’s arguments, asked the court to refuse the investigator’s applications for the extension of the arrest of an elderly woman.

The representative of the High Commissioner attended the trial while considering the extension of the detention period.

On May 25, the Moscow City Court released Natalya Jankovich from the courtroom, changing her measure of restraint for non-custodial one.

The High Commissioner continues to monitor the further development of the situation in this criminal case.