Court sentences journalist Elena Pivovarova to imprisonment

Elena Pivovarova, the former editor-in-chief of the Bataysk newspaper “Vperyod” (Forward), was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment on the charges of embezzlement and fraud. Ekaterina Avakova, the chief accountant of the newspaper “Vperyod”, was sentenced to four years of imprisonment.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that Elena Pivovarova was accused of embezzlement using her official position. She is suspected of providing false information about the number of copies of the newspaper for delivery.

Elena Pivovarova was dismissed from her position as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Vperyod” on November 12, 2020, although her contract was valid until 2025. Elena Pivovarova sought reinstatement in December 2020, but court refused to reinstate her.

According to the prosecutors’ version, Elena Pivovarova and Ekaterina Avakova entered into a conspiracy to steal budget funds that were allocated for distributing the newspaper.