Russian Federation detains director of Ukrainian library in Moscow

Natalia Sharina, the director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, faces up to four years behind bars after the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against her using the country’s oft-criticized and vaguely defined “extremism” laws.

She was charged with inciting hatred and violating human dignity.

Korchynsky is a controversial Ukrainian nationalist who helped establish the UNA-UNSO extreme right-wing party and later set up another radical party dubbed Bratstvo (Brotherhood).

“This is not the first attempt by the Kremlin to label all things Ukrainian “Russophobic” and ‘extremist, ‘” the Ukranian foreign ministry said late Wednesday. A few have accused Korchynsky of being an agent provocateur.

The police also searched the homes of Sharina and another Ukrainian whose organization has worked with the library.

The Library of Ukrainian Literature stocks titles in Russian and Ukrainian, and receives funding from the Moscow city budget.

As reported, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) sent the State Aviation Service of Ukraine a letter on October 28 in which it was suggested to continue negotiations on renewing air traffic between Russian Federation and Ukraine, Rosaviatsia said.

In exchange the Ukrainian side gave up 11 rebels captured in the course of fighting that has claimed more than 8,000 lives and wrecked havoc on what was once the former Soviet republic’s industrial heartland.

The BBC’s David Stern in Kiev says it is a sign that a ceasefire introduced at the beginning of September continues to hold, and may be growing stronger.