Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the sentence imposed on Russian activists Anastasia Zinovkina and Artem Gribul, who are being held in a Georgian prison.

Anastasia Zinovkina and Artem Gribul have been sentenced to 8.5 years’ imprisonment on charges of drug possession. They do not admit guilt and say that the drugs were “planted” on them because of their participation in the “December protests.”

Anastasia Zinovkina and Artem Gribul participated in pro-European rallies held in Tbilisi, where they provided protesters with hot drinks. According to them, this became the reason for their detention.

Anastasia Zinovkina has a serious health condition and has repeatedly accused the prison administration of neglect and degrading treatment.