Ekaterina Gordon Discusses Lerchek's Reaction to the News of Pardon

Blogger Lerchek (real name Valeria Chekalina) is crying and expressing gratitude to everyone following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to pardon her, lawyer Ekaterina Gordon told RBC.

"Lera is crying and grateful to everyone. I just spoke to her," said Gordon.

Putin pardoned Chekalina, releasing her from the sentence imposed by the court and expunging her criminal record. The corresponding decree was published on the official legal information portal. The document came into force on November 14.

On November 12, Chekalina appealed to Putin for a pardon. After the birth of her fourth child, the blogger was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer with metastases.

In July, the Gagarin District Court of Moscow sentenced the blogger to five years' suspended imprisonment, a fine of 763 million rubles, and a three-year ban on administering websites. Chekalina was found guilty of illegal foreign exchange transactions using forged documents. In November, the Moscow City Court upheld the verdict.

In October, Chekalina reported that the survey revealed a resumption of growth of metastases, including in the lungs. Doctors advised her to consider treatment in China with CAR-T therapy. Lawyers of the blogger asked the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) to allow her to travel abroad for treatment.

Prior to the pardon decision, Gordon urged the public to support Chekalina's appeal to the president. She asked colleagues, celebrities and followers to distribute it and said a trip to China could be her last hope of saving her life.