Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor:  Joseph Golder,  Agency: Newsflash

A female radio presenter has gone to court to clear her name after she was dismissed on the spot for allegedly harassing a younger male colleague.

Nina Davletzyanova, 44, worked for Radio Svoboda (Radio Freedom) in the western Russian capital Moscow alongside 26-year-old male colleague Anton Porvatkin.

According to Davletzyanova, he reported her for sexual harassment and her bosses sacked her on the spot without providing any details or evidence of the allegation.

Davletzyanova told local media: “They refused to listen to me, they did not provide any proof of me harassing Anton.

“They fired me in a very humiliating way. The dismissal notice was sent by mail and a copy was also sent to my mother who had a heart attack just a few days before all this.”

Davletzyanova said that she told her relatives that the accusation was untrue, but they were still very upset and her concerned mother feels worse again.

She also visited a counsellor to prove her innocence, saying: “I went for a psychiatric test and used a lie detector which confirmed there was no harassment from my part.

“The defendant sent two lawyers to the last court hearing and they were very aggressive. It is clear that this conflict cannot be resolved peacefully.”

Davletzyanova said: “I didn’t do him any harm or ever harass him. All of this can be checked quite easily, but no one wants to take responsibility. I don’t really understand what is going on.”

While the investigation continues, Nina remains jobless and with no income to pay her rent or bills. She lives with her daughter and also tries to take care of her sick mother.

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