Australian Library and Information Association Sends Letter of Support to Natalya Sharina, Librarian Under House Arrest in Russia

UPDATED POST (Feb. 9, 2017) Ukrainian Librarian Under Russian House Arrest Takes Case to Court Of Human Rights (via The Guardian)
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Kudos to the Australian Library and Information Association for showing public support for Natalya Sharina.
Background
We’ve posted about Natalya Sharina, Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, since the library was raided and she was placed under house arrest in October 2015.
In November 2016, the BBC, Radio Free Europe, and Amnesty International reported that her trial had begun and she pleaded not guilty to charges of extremism and embezzlement.
From an IFLA Statement (December 15, 2016):

In October 2015, Natalya Sharina, Director of the Library of Ukrainian literature in Moscow, was arrested and charged on suspicion of inciting hatred or animosity towards a social group. The justification? Allegedly holding banned books in the library she ran.

Links to these and other reports are posted below.
Today’s Letter From Australian Library and Information Association
Today, January 20, 2016, ALIA has sent a letter of support for Natalya Sharina.
The ALIA post that also includes the full text of the letter begins:

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has sent a letter of support to political prisoner Natalya Sharina, Director of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow.
IFLA has stated Natalya was arrested and placed under house arrest in October 2015 after being accused of inciting hatred or animosity towards a social group by allegedly holding banned books in the Library.  In April 2016, she was also charged with misappropriating library funds and her house arrest was subsequently extended.
ALIA agrees with IFLA that the treatment of the Library of Ukrainian Literature, and its staff – and in particular Natalya Sharina – is completely disproportionate and unnecessary, and an attack on libraries and librarians.  As such it is an attack on democracy, learning and culture.

Direct to Complete Post and Full Text of Letter of Support
Resources

• Unnecessary and Disproportionate: IFLA President Donna Scheeder Calls for End to Proceedings against Natalya Sharina (December 15, 2016)

• More Action Needed! – Release Librarian Under House Arrest (Russian Federation: UA 261/15) (via Amnesty International; November 2016)

• Report: “Ukrainian Library Director Goes On Trial In Moscow” (November 2, 2016)

• Director of Ukrainian Library in Moscow Faces New Charges (March 31, 2016)

• IFLA-FAIFE Releases Statement on Targeting of the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow (November 12, 2015)

• Russian Librarian Put Under House Arrest as She Awaits Trial (via Human Rights Watch; November 2, 2015)

• Employees of Raided Ukrainian Library in Moscow Say They Were Framed (October 30, 2015)

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