Lyudmila Islamova, a mother of four and director of a small pipe element manufacturing company, is challenging a guilty verdict for allegedly using pirated accounting software while on maternity leave. The case has spanned five years, involving multiple investigations, court hearings, and appeals. Despite representatives from the software company stating they had no claims and the company paying a fine, Lyudmila was convicted and given a suspended sentence.

The core of the dispute centers around whether Lyudmila knowingly used unlicensed software. Her legal team argues that the prosecution must prove she was aware of the piracy and intentionally did nothing to stop it or even instructed it. They cite a recent Supreme Court decision in a similar case, where the court ruled that a manager’s failure to hire a specialist to check software does not prove intent to commit piracy.

Lyudmila maintains her innocence, stating that she checked all licenses and reporting documents and trusted the system administrator. She claims she had no knowledge of the pirated software and did not instruct its installation. She fears that the criminal record could negatively affect her children’s future.

The case began in September 2020 with a police raid on Lyudmila’s company, prompted by a statement from the software company, which found unlicensed software on seven computers. Lyudmila, who founded the company and grew it to 16 employees before taking maternity leave, was urgently called back to the office and informed of the criminal charges, which carry a potential six-year prison sentence.

The legal process has been a rollercoaster, with initial guilty verdicts overturned on appeal, only to be followed by further guilty verdicts. Lyudmila, with the support of her lawyers, is now preparing a complaint to the Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the conviction and clear her name.